Mbilli's Promoter: Champion Will Arrive in Saudi 'as Planned' for Canelo Fight

Christian Mbilli's side has now gone on record: the WBC super middleweight champion is still heading to Riyadh for his Oct. 31 defense against Canelo Alvarez.

Camille Estephan, Mbilli's promoter at Eye of the Tiger Management, told Sky Sports on Thursday: "Christian will arrive in Saudi as planned. I'm very confident the fight goes ahead and Mbilli will keep his belt and dethrone Canelo, God willing."

Until now, most of the public assurances had come from the Saudi side. Turki Alalshikh said on Oct. 11 that Canelo had told him he would fight in Riyadh "no matter what happens," as The National reported. As of Oct. 14, BoxingInsider noted there had been no statement on the security situation from Mbilli or his promoter.

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The backdrop

The fight is still on even as the security picture in Saudi Arabia keeps getting worse. On Wednesday the U.S. State Department ordered non-emergency government staff and their families to leave the country, citing Houthi attacks on civilian airports and other infrastructure, BoxingScene reported. Boxbid covered that order Wednesday. Sky Sports notes the UK government is warning against non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia, and other Riyadh events, including tennis' Six Kings Slam, have been postponed.

Alalshikh's published fight-week schedule has grand arrivals on Oct. 28, a press conference on Oct. 29, the ceremonial weigh-in on Oct. 30 and ring walks around 9 p.m. local time on Oct. 31, per BoxingScene. Dan Rafael has reported that DAZN's commentary team would likely call the show from a London studio if it goes ahead.

What's at stake

Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs) makes the first defense of the WBC title he was elevated to after Terence Crawford retired. Canelo, 36, hasn't fought since losing to Crawford in September 2025, and he is trying to win back a belt he held for years.

Boxbid will keep tracking any change to the date, the venue or the card.