Sometimes, it’s nice to be the bearer of good news: there are still unsold tickets to Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbilli, if you’re interested. Live on Saturday 31 October from the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
What? Oh, the missiles. Hmm. But £41.85 is a pretty good price for the upper tier; it’s a small venue, so you’ll have a clear view of the ring, provided no part of the roof collapses onto it amid Houthi fire.
I might be struggling to convince you. That’s fine, some people have just enough of a taste for violence that they’ll watch two boxers lay heavy leather into welting skin (I’ll avert my gaze and raise my hand), but they draw the line at travelling to an active warzone to watch the action. To each their own.
In all seriousness, sarcasm can convey the ridiculousness of the decision to push ahead with Saturday’s sporting event, but it shouldn’t belie the danger at hand.
Conflict continues between Saudi Arabia and the Yemen-aligned Houthis, with recent weeks bringing numerous attacks on Riyadh’s airports, leaving more than 300 people injured and at least 21 dead, per Saudi authorities.
The international airport has reopened, but the US Department of State has urged citizens to “reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to risk of drone and missile targeting", while areas near the Yemen border have been listed as such: “do not travel due to terrorism”. Meanwhile, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office “advises against all but essential travel to parts of Saudi Arabia” and areas “within 10km” of the Yemen border.
Is Canelo’s super-middleweight title fight with Mbilli “essential”? Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh, the most-influential matchmaker in boxing since 2023, might argue it is. And so the Mexican star arrived in Riyadh on Monday.
“I love to be here in Riyadh, and I’m excited to fight on Saturday,” said a not-entirely-convincing Canelo in a video on Alalshikh’s X account, the modern icon shuffling about with his hands in his pockets and just about mustering a smile.
Earlier this month, Alalshikh tweeted of Canelo, “He fears nothing,” adding: “My country is home to the two Holy Mosques, land of peace, safety, rich civilisation, deep history and kind-hearted people.”
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) October 26, 2026
It is not a land of “peace” or” safety” right now, though, whatever any pride or stubbornness – personal or national – might suggest.
Speaking of personal pride, it would not be surprising for Alalshikh to take note of this article or even voice disapproval of it; he has enjoyed back-and-forths with journalists who don’t see things his way.
As mentioned above, Alalshikh plays a major role in the landscape of elite boxing, but also in the governing of Saudi Arabia. The landscape of Riyadh itself might look wholly different if there are further Houthi attacks, and ANB Arena might look like a major target if attendees even flirt with the 8,000 capacity.
The desire to forge ahead with Saturday’s fights is not surprising; much of Saudi Arabia’s success in sporting realms and others has been achieved by refusing to take “no” for an answer. Money helps to garner a “yes”, of course. That said, it is worth noting that the Dakar Rally, due to be held in Saudi Arabia in January, has been moved to “a different territory” due to the Houthi attacks; a sensible decision, and one made despite there being plenty of time until the race’s planned start date.
However, the decision to press on with Canelo vs Mbilli still feels pointed, especially amid a period in which Saudi spending on boxing seems to be drying up – despite public statements that this is not the case.
Despite the defiant claims around the boxing, there has been clear trouble for breakaway golf league LIV, which is hoping to avoid bankruptcy after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund cut its funding in April. Then there was the move against renewing the year-end finals from the women’s tennis tour, while Saudi Arabia’s Masters snooker event lasted just two years despite a deal planned for a decade.
One of Saturday’s undercard bouts might have been cancelled, per journalist Dan Rafael, who said Lindolfo Delgado would “probably not” face Arthur Biyarslanov; Delgado and his team had reportedly not made travel plans, although Biyarslanov had already arrived in Riyadh. Rafael also said that broadcaster DAZN would likely present the event from a studio in London.
Elsewhere in the Middle East, the UFC went ahead with a major fight card in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, in another unsurprising development; UFC president and CEO Dana White has been the picture of stubbornness throughout his career, which he might choose to take as a compliment despite the written intent.
There’s no doubt that Canelo wants to become a world champion again. There’s no doubt that some figures in Saudi Arabia see merit in pressing on with Saturday’s fights, perhaps seeing it as a spirited act of defiance, even if there are other motives at play. Yet one can’t help but wonder whether Canelo feels a sort of debt to Alalshikh, who last year brokered a lucrative four-fight deal for the Mexican to box in the Kingdom, or whether Canelo might have lost his entire purse if he had withdrawn.
But Saturday’s cost could be much greater than another loss on Canelo’s record, against a younger, unbeaten champion. Whether or not the fights take place this weekend, there has already been a bitter fight against common sense here.