Canelo vs. Mbilli fight postponed from September to October

The highly anticipated boxing showdown between WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli and Mexican superstar Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez has been rescheduled. The fight, initially slated for September 12 in Riyadh, is now postponed to late October, though it will remain at the same venue.

The announcement of the delay came from the specialized magazine The Ring, owned by Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh, and was subsequently shared by Mbilli's promoter on social media. This postponement means the bout will occur over a month later than originally planned.

For Mbilli, the interim WBC super middleweight champion since June 2025 and official world champion since January, this fight represents a monumental challenge. He was recognized as champion after Terrence Crawford, the previous titleholder, retired. Crawford had himself dethroned Álvarez in September 2025 in a notable bout in Saudi Arabia.

This rescheduling presents a unique situation for Álvarez. For the first time since 2022, the 35-year-old Mexican, who boasts 63 wins (39 by knockout), 3 losses, and 2 draws, will enter the ring not as the defending champion, but as the challenger. This marks a significant shift in his career trajectory.

Mbilli had previously expressed the magnitude of this fight, stating, “Canelo Álvarez is the biggest challenge of my entire life, a life of effort, perseverance, and hard work that has forged me for this moment… I promise to impose my name in the history of the sport by waging a war like you have never seen before.” The postponement, while disappointing for fans eager for the September date, ensures the bout will still be a major event later in the year.