Saudi sports promoter Turki Al-Sheikh says the world title bout between Saul Alvarez, known as Canelo, and Christian M’billi will still take place this month in Saudi Arabia. He made the claim despite attacks on the kingdom’s airports that have claimed the lives of at least 14 people in Riyadh over two days.
Al-Sheikh, who chairs the General Entertainment Authority, made his remarks on Sunday in an effort to ease doubts about the fight, which is scheduled for October 31 in the Saudi capital. Yemen’s Houthis have launched repeated attacks on the city.
Airport strikes in Riyadh and claims of responsibility
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said one person died and 11 were hurt on Sunday when a projectile hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The previous day, a Houthi strike on that same airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, the deadliest assault on Saudi Arabia in over ten years.
The Houthis have claimed all four earlier strikes on Saudi airports, but no group has yet taken responsibility for Sunday’s projectile.
Alvarez’s pledge and his recent record
In a social media post, Al-Sheikh said Alvarez had contacted him to say he would still fight in Riyadh this October regardless of events, adding that the boxer feared nothing. Alvarez holds several world titles and faces WBC super-middleweight champion M’billi.
The Mexican boxer, a former two-time undisputed super-middleweight champion, has not fought since losing to American Terence Crawford in September 2025.
