Turki al-Sheikh says Canelo Álvarez 'fears nothing' and will still fight unbeaten Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on 31 October.
Canelo Álvarez is staying the course. Saudi powerbroker Turki al-Sheikh says the Mexican superstar "fears nothing" and will go ahead with his world title fight in Riyadh, even after a wave of deadly attacks on airports and other infrastructure across the kingdom.
The bout is scheduled for 31 October, when Álvarez challenges unbeaten Christian Mbilli for the WBC super-middleweight title. It comes three weeks after a Saturday missile strike on the Saudi capital's main international airport that left at least 12 people dead and more than 300 wounded. Al-Sheikh, who has become one of the most influential figures in the sport, insists the event is not in doubt.
The stakes were already high for Canelo. He is looking for redemption after his defeat to Terence Crawford, and a win over the undefeated Mbilli would put him back on top of the 168-pound division. Mbilli, for his part, has an unblemished record and the chance to take down one of boxing's biggest names on a huge stage.
With the security situation in Saudi Arabia in the spotlight, all eyes now turn to how preparations unfold in the weeks ahead. For now, the message from the promotion is unchanged: the fight is on, and Canelo is coming to Riyadh.
