The scheduled WBC super middleweight title fight between Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli has been postponed and is now expected to take place in late October in Riyadh instead of the originally scheduled September 12 date.
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The change was first reported by Ring Magazine, which said the bout had been moved as part of Riyadh Season’s expanding boxing calendar. No official reason has been given for the delay, and the exact date in October has not yet been announced.
The fight is expected to be 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, prompting the WBC to elevate the undefeated French-based contender from interim champion to full champion.
Despite the delay, the bout 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 look to regain the WBC belt and start rebuilding after the Crawford loss.
The delay 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 he was elevated to full WBC champion earlier this month.
The revised date also pushes back Canelo’s bid to regain a world title. The Mexican star has won championships in four weight classes in his career, while Mbilli enters the bout undefeated and looking for the signature victory that could establish him as the division’s premier champion.
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Last updated on 06/27/2026 at 21:01
