Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli Postponed, Moved To Late October In Riyadh

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The change was first reported by Ring Magazine, which said the bout has been moved as part of Riyadh Season’s expanding boxing calendar. No official reason has been given for the postponement, and the exact date in October has not yet been announced.

The fight is expected to mark Canelo’s first appearance since his unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford, a defeat that cost him the undisputed super middleweight championship. Rather than defend the WBC title against mandatory challenger Mbilli, Canelo vacated the belt in June, leading the WBC to elevate the unbeaten French-based contender from interim champion to full champion.

Despite the delay, the matchup remains one of the biggest on the calendar at 168 pounds. Mbilli enters the fight undefeated and has steadily climbed the rankings with his aggressive style and knockout power, while Canelo will attempt to reclaim the WBC belt and begin rebuilding after the Crawford defeat.

The postponement means Canelo will have gone more than a year between fights, with his most recent appearance ending in a unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford in September 2025. For Mbilli, the delay extends the wait for the biggest fight of his career after being elevated to full WBC champion earlier this month.

The revised date also pushes back Canelo’s attempt to regain a world title. The Mexican star has won championships in four weight classes during his career, while Mbilli enters the bout unbeaten and looking for the signature victory that could establish him as the division’s leading champion.