Canelo Álvarez remains committed to Riyadh fight after airport attacks, Al-Sheikh says

Canelo Álvarez has told Turki al-Sheikh that he still intends to fight Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on 31 October despite deadly attacks on the Saudi capital's airport, according to reporting by the Guardian. Al-Sheikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, said in a social media post on Sunday that the Mexican boxer had contacted him personally to reaffirm his commitment to the WBC super-middleweight title contest.

Watch the highlights:

The statement followed a missile strike on King Khalid International Airport on Saturday that killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300, the Guardian reported. A further projectile hit a passenger terminal on Sunday, according to the Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen. Authorities reported additional injuries from that attack but did not immediately give a number. India's embassy also reported the death of a citizen from injuries suffered in Saturday's strike, potentially taking that death toll to 13.

The airport was still closed on Sunday, while several international airlines had suspended services to Saudi Arabia. The Guardian reported that the US government had advised American citizens to stay away from the airport and nearby areas. Al-Sheikh's account establishes Álvarez's stated intention to compete, rather than resolving the uncertainty surrounding travel and security ahead of the event.

For Álvarez, the scheduled bout would be his first appearance since a unanimous-decision defeat by Terence Crawford in September 2025. The 36-year-old former undisputed super-middleweight champion has 63 wins, three losses and two draws, with 39 knockout victories. He previously boxed in Riyadh in May 2025. Mbilli is unbeaten in 29 professional contests, having recorded 24 wins by knockout.

Álvarez has been training on Spain's Mediterranean coast at a facility also used by Oleksandr Usyk. In a call with the Guardian and other reporters on Tuesday, he said he had changed his preparations to address difficulties adapting to the time difference during his previous Saudi visit. He believes he needs 21 days to adjust fully, according to the newspaper's report.

During the same call, Álvarez reflected on the Crawford defeat, saying his preparation had been strong but his concentration had faltered during fight week. He also declined to set a retirement timetable. His preparations and Al-Sheikh's latest assurance keep the focus on a planned return against Mbilli, although the reported commitment comes against a security situation that remains unsettled.