Canelo decides to cancel fight with Christian Mbilli after tragic attack in Saudi Arabia
Over the weekend, Saudi Arabia faced two tragic attacks that sadly took the lives of 13 people and injured over 300 at King Khalid International Airport on Saturday. The day after, another attack led to one more death and left 11 others hurt. These events have raised questions about upcoming big sports events in the country, like the Six Kings Slam tennis tournament and the highly anticipated boxing match between Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli.
Canelo, the famous Mexican boxer, has now shared a clear message about his upcoming fight. Despite the recent attacks by the Houthis, his title match with Mbilli is still planned for October 31 in Riyadh. The weekend’s attacks resulted in 14 deaths and many injuries, reminding everyone how serious the Yemen conflict still is. This ongoing war involves Yemen’s government, backed by Saudi Arabia, fighting against the Houthis, who receive support from Iran. The conflict has lasted over ten years, causing extreme hardship for many people in Yemen.
The Houthi group even warned airlines and travelers to avoid Saudi airports, saying they could be targets. But Canelo, showing strong determination, has made it clear he wants the fight to happen as planned.
Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority chairman, Al-Sheikh, shared on social media that Canelo personally assured him he’s committed to the fight no matter what. He said, “Canelo reached out and told me he’ll still fight in Riyadh this October, no matter what happens. He fears nothing.” Al-Sheikh also expressed pride in Saudi Arabia as a peaceful and welcoming place, thanking everyone for their support during these tough times.
Unless the situation worsens, the fight is expected to go ahead in Riyadh. However, recent conflicts have already caused disruptions to other events. For example, the 2026 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was canceled because of safety worries linked to tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran. Now, because of the ongoing conflict with the Houthis in Yemen, there are doubts about whether Canelo’s fight and the Six Kings Slam tennis event, featuring stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, and Alexander Zverev, will take place. We’re all waiting for official news as the tennis tournament is just over a week away.