The WBC world title fight between Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli will not take place in September. Riyadh Season has postponed the blockbuster bout until late October.
The highly anticipated world championship bout between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Christian Mbilli will not take place on September 12 as planned. As Ring Magazine and DAZN had already announced, Riyadh Season has postponed the blockbuster fight to late October. The venue remains Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and a new date is expected to be announced shortly.
For WBC world champion Christian Mbilli, however, the postponement does not change his goals. The undefeated Frenchman with Cameroonian roots continues to face the biggest challenge of his career with composure. “I’ve been waiting for this fight for years. A month more or less won’t change anything—my time will come,” Mbilli said confidently.
Eye of the Tiger President Camille Estephan also doesn’t see the date change as a disadvantage for his protégé. On the contrary: “Whether it’s in September or October—Christian Mbilli will leave the ring as the winner. And now Canelo has even less of an excuse not to be perfectly prepared.” For Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs), this is an opportunity to make the most of his biggest stage yet and definitively establish himself among the world’s elite by defeating the Mexican superstar.
Canelo, on the other hand, wants to prove—following his loss to Terence Crawford—that he still belongs among the very best in boxing. While the postponement means fans will have to wait a little longer, it’s unlikely to dampen the anticipation for one of the biggest matchups of the year.
Text by Robin Josten