Canelo Alvarez is scheduled to make his long-awaited return against Christian Mbilli on Oct. 31 at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. However, new security concerns in the region have created uncertainty around one of boxing’s biggest upcoming fights.
According to EssentiallySports, Canelo’s upcoming fight with Mbilli has faced uncertainty following a security warning in Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Mission in Saudi Arabia issued an alert on Oct. 5 warning of the potential for drone or missile attacks and advised U.S. citizens to exercise increased caution and remain vigilant.
Ring
Canelo vs. Mbilli Still Scheduled for Oct. 31
For now, boxing fans can still expect Canelo and Mbilli to meet as scheduled.
As of Oct. 6, there has been no official announcement that Canelo vs. Mbilli has been canceled, postponed or relocated.
The matchup will mark Canelo’s first fight since his unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford in September 2025. Mbilli also hasn’t competed since fighting Lester Martinez to a split draw that same month.
Canelo vs. Mbilli has already been delayed once. The fight was initially targeted for Sept. 12 before personal matters delayed the start of Canelo’s training camp and pushed the matchup to Oct. 31.
Could Canelo vs. Mbilli Move From Riyadh?
The security concerns come at a difficult time for Canelo, whose return has already been pushed back once. The fight was initially targeted for Sept. 12 before being rescheduled for Oct. 31 after personal matters delayed the start of his training camp.
Another change would extend Canelo’s absence from the ring even further. The former undisputed super middleweight champion hasn’t competed since his unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford in September 2025.
For now, the Oct. 31 fight remains on the calendar, with no official change to the date or location announced.
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