Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will have to wait a little longer to return to the ring. The highly anticipated fight against the undefeated Christian Mbilli, which was initially scheduled for September 12, 2026, has been rescheduled for late October, although the bout remains confirmed as part of the Riyadh Season calendar in Saudi Arabia.
The change represents a significant shift for fans, especially for the Hispanic community in the United States, which typically watches the Mexican champion’s fights during the Fiestas Patrias celebrations.
The fight is still on, but the date has changed
The Canelo Alvarez-Christian Mbili fight for the WBC super middleweight title has been postponed and will now take place in late October in Riyadh, @ringmagazine has learned. The fight was originally scheduled for Sept. 12. It is now part of the expanding Riyadh Season calendar. pic.twitter.com/TAAWdrVpBO
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) June 28, 2026
According to information provided by The Ring, the bout between Canelo Álvarez and Christian Mbilli was merely rescheduled and was not canceled.
So far, the organizers have not officially explained why the date of the fight was changed.
However, the fight remains part of the Riyadh Season schedule, and previously purchased tickets remain valid.
For Canelo, this will be a hugely important fight, as it will mark his return following his loss to Terence Crawford in 2025.
A fight in which he lost all four of his super middleweight (168-pound) titles – (Filed under: Canelo Álvarez postpones his return).
More time to arrive in better shape
Saul Alvarez is back in training after recovering from surgery on his left elbow, which he underwent in October 2025.
Although there is no official explanation for the date change, various reports suggest that the Mexican fighter will have several additional weeks to complete his physical training before returning to the ring.
In recent weeks, there has also been speculation about possible changes to sports schedules in the Middle East due to the regional conflict.
However, Turki Alalshikh had previously stated that the Riyadh Season events would continue as planned (Filed under: Canelo Álvarez postpones his return).
An undefeated opponent with a world title
Christian Mbilli will arrive as the World Boxing Council (WBC) super middleweight world champion.
And with an impressive professional record of 29 wins, one draw, and 24 knockouts.
For his part, Canelo will look to set himself on the path to regaining a world title and reestablishing himself among the top fighters in the 168-pound division (Filed under: Canelo Álvarez postpones his return).
It was rescheduled for the end of October
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Estos son los datos principales del combate: Pelea: Saúl Álvarez vs. Christian Mbilli División: Supermediano (168 libras) Sede: Riad, Arabia Saudita Fecha original: 12 de septiembre de 2026 Nueva fecha: finales de octubre de 2026 Con dos peleas aún contempladas dentro de su contrato con Riyadh Season, el regreso de Canelo sigue siendo uno de los eventos más esperados del boxeo internacional durante la segunda mitad de 2026. Ahora, el campeón mexicano contará con más tiempo para afinar su preparación. Antes de enfrentar uno de los desafíos más importantes de su carrera reciente (Archivado como: Canelo Álvarez retrasa su regreso). Para más información, visita ” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener” https:=””>NuevaOnda.com