The fight between Christian Mbilli and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez is going ahead on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, RMC Sport reports, even as missile and drone attacks target the kingdom. The Frenchman faces the Mexican icon with his WBC super-middleweight belt on the line. Eight undercard bouts were scheduled ahead of the main event, starting from 15:00.
Why it matters
For Mbilli, the bout is the biggest of his career. French outlets have framed it in grand terms: L'Équipe quoted him saying that no one takes up sport without an ambition for greatness, while Le Figaro described it as the fight of a lifetime for the French boxer. Le Point went further, calling it the "fight of the century." The contest pits a rising contender against one of the most recognised names in modern boxing, and it carries a world title.
The undercard runs late
The evening's schedule slipped more than once. According to RMC Sport's live coverage, the WBA super-middleweight title fight between Mexico's Jaime Munguia and Russia's Nikita Zon had been due around 20:45 but the pair were still not in the ring as the delay stretched on. Munguia (46-2) was putting his belt on the line against Zon (12-1-0).
RMC Sport noted that Munguia's recent record has been turbulent. Until 2024 his only professional defeat had come against Alvarez, but he was then knocked out by the French boxer Bruno Surace. A rematch followed, which Munguia won by unanimous decision, before he tested positive for a banned substance — an episode RMC Sport says marked a turning point in his career.
Earlier on the card, Rafael Espinoza retained his WBO featherweight title. The referee stopped his bout against Nicaragua's Ricardo Blandon after a cut opened above Blandon's eye in the third round, giving the Mexican a TKO win. RMC Sport reports that Espinoza remains unbeaten and that the victory was his fifth successful title defence. Blandon had taken the fight at short notice.
Mbilli's preparation and a personal loss
RMC Sport's live blog showed Mbilli in the final stages of preparation, having his hands wrapped before putting on his gloves as the main event approached. Speaking to DAZN, he said he felt in the best shape of his life and declined to name the key to victory, telling viewers to watch the fight and see.
A member of Mbilli's camp, quoted by RMC Sport, said the Frenchman had recently suffered a family tragedy — the death of his mother — and described it as something that would drive him on. The same source said Mbilli had promised her over the years that he was preparing for this fight, and that he was ready to go to the limit in the ring.
Alvarez was also shown continuing his preparations backstage, with RMC Sport indicating the main event was expected around 22:00. Both headliners had arrived at the Kingdom Arena before the undercard bouts concluded, and the venue was filling up as the co-main event neared.
What to watch
The main event was expected around 22:00 local coverage time, with Mbilli's WBC super-middleweight belt at stake. Whether the delays that pushed back the undercard affect that start time is the thing to watch.
