Fight Week Is Here
Right then. Canelo Alvarez versus Christian Mbilli is five days away, and fighters have started arriving in Riyadh. Fight week begins on 28 October with arrivals, the press conference follows on 29 October and the weigh-ins are on 30 October, all live on DAZN Boxing. The fight itself is on Saturday 31 October, as a DAZN pay-per-view.
Canelo (63-3-2, 39 KOs) says he is ready to fight despite security concerns. Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) is making the first defence of his WBC super middleweight title, which tells you what kind of night this is: the unbeaten champion is the one defending, and the legend is the one coming to take it back.
What Has Changed On The Card
Not everything has gone to plan. An IBF super lightweight title fight has been dropped from the undercard after one side raised travel concerns. The US State Department still has a Level 3 "Reconsider Travel" advisory for Saudi Arabia, and Canada and Mexico also advise against non-essential travel there, so those worries are not imaginary.
There has also been a late change for Rafael Espinoza and his WBO featherweight defence. His original opponent was not sanctioned by the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission, so a replacement has stepped in. It is untidy, but this is what big overseas cards look like.
The Rest Of The Undercard
Jaime Munguia is still on the bill defending his WBA super middleweight title, and the card still carries multiple world title fights. For a full breakdown, read the full Mexico vs The World card.
My Prediction
I have not changed my mind. Mbilli is dangerous, he lands in big moments, and he is unbeaten for a reason. But Canelo's ring IQ and the fact that he has been in with every style imaginable are the difference. Make no mistake, Mbilli will have his moments early. Then Canelo takes over and wins a hard, hard fight on points.
The bigger question every year at this point is whether the fight actually happens. With fighters already in the city and the card still proceeding, I now expect it to. If you know, you know: this is a proper fight.
Luke’s Verdict
Canelo Alvarez by decision. Mbilli gets some serious moments in the first half, and then Canelo's body work and counter shots swing it. Keep up with fight week on the news page and see the fight schedule.