‘I love to be in Riyadh’: Canelo Alvarez rejects security fears and retirement talk
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will attempt to roll back the years and dethrone WBC super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli against a backdrop of security concerns in Riyadh. Alvarez returns to the ring on Saturday for the first time in 13 months, having not fought since losing his undisputed 168lb crown to Terence Crawford in September 2025. Despite boasting a Hall of Fame resume and being one of…
Canelo Alvarez, the renowned Mexican boxer, is set to return to the ring in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, despite security fears and retirement talk. This Saturday marks his first fight in 13 months, since losing his undisputed 168lb title to Terence Crawford. A Hall of Fame boxer and one of the wealthiest athletes globally, Alvarez's career will enter its 21st year this weekend.
Alvarez, now 36, boasts a record of 63 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws. He has been quoted as saying, "no boxing, no life," reflecting his passion for the sport. He told Ariel Helwani, "I was born for this. I really enjoy it. It’s hard to adapt yourself again, and the training camps are very hard, but I love that, and I enjoy it a lot."
Despite being financially secure, Alvarez is driven by the motivation to keep his mind engaged and motivated. He has about three or four fights left in his career. A rematch with Crawford and a fight at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City are among his goals. A win over his upcoming opponent, WBC super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli, would set the stage for a major event in 2027. However, a loss could accelerate plans for his retirement.
The decision to hold the fight in Riyadh has been met with criticism due to recent Houthi attacks that killed 22 people and injured 380 across the kingdom. Despite these threats, Alvarez and his promoter, Turki Alalshikh, are confident the fight will go ahead. Alalshikh posted on X, "Canelo reached out and told me he’ll still fight in Riyadh this October, no matter what happens, he fears nothing."
Alvarez himself expressed his excitement about the fight, saying, "I love to be here in Riyadh, and I’m excited to fight on Saturday and become a world champion once again."
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