What to Know
- Fighters on the “Mexico vs the World” card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have begun safely arriving in preparation for the event scheduled on Saturday, October 31
- The fight card headlined by Canelo Álvarez vs Christian Mbilli is still scheduled and apparently going forward while violent attacks continue in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
- Fight Week events begin on Wednesday, October 28, with grand arrivals.
Despite continued security concerns due to political unrest and violence targeting Saudi Arabia, fighters have begun arriving in Riyadh in advance of the “Mexico vs the World” fight card scheduled on Saturday, October 31, with Fight Week activities scheduled to kick off on Wednesday.
WBC World Super Middleweight Christian Mbilli of Quebec will make his first title defense against former undisputed super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Álvarez of Mexico. The card, titled “Mexico vs the World,” also featured matchups between top Mexican champions and contenders with opponents from around the world.
On Sunday night, DAZN Boxing as well as Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, posted video of Álvarez arriving in Riyadh alongside former undisputed world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Álvarez and several of his stablemates have been training at Usyk’s gym located in Valencia, Spain.
IT’S GO TIME!! Canelo has touched down 🔥✈️ 🎥 via: Canelo 🎟️ Buy #CaneloMbilli NOW at https://t.co/yxybEeoyF5 | Oct 31 | Mexico vs The World | @ringmagazine 🤳 https://t.co/wjbUKav4gW
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 26, 2026
Also arriving with Team Canelo was WBO World Featherweight champion Rafael “Divino” Espinoza, also training in Spain. Although he wasn’t pictured, WBA World Super Middleweight champion Jaime Munguia of Tijuana likely made the trip as well.
Álvarez has insisted for weeks he would fight in Riyadh without regard to any concerns about safety. On his arrival, Canelo said, “I love to be here in Riyadh, and I’m excited to fight on Saturday, so I can be a world champion again.”
Mbilli and his stablemate with Eye of the Tiger Management also on the card, super lightweight Arthur Biyarslanov, arrived several days ago, although they reportedly took an alternative route to the Saudi capital.
Eye of the Tiger president Camille Estephan confirmed he would travel on Monday to support his fighters.
Je pars lundi et j’arriverai mardi en Arabie Saoudite, l’équipe est déjà là. Dans mes bagages, Il y aura évidemment le drapeau du Québec. Je connais Christian je sais ce qu’il a sacrifié pour arriver jusqu’ici et surtout à quel point il est déterminé à gagner ce combat. La semaine passée, il a dit: “Même si ça va avoir lieu en Arabie Saoudite, vous pouvez me croire que je vais défendre ma ceinture pour Montréal et le Québec en tapant Canelo le 31 octobre.” Toute l’équipe a fait le travail nécessaire pour lui donner les meilleures chances de réussir. On sait ce qui nous attend, mais on sait aussi ce qu’on amène dans ce ring. J’ai confiance en mon gars et j’ai vraiment hâte à samedi. ⚜️🥊🐅#EottmArmy #Solide #NousCombattonsEnsemble
— Camille Estephan (@EstephanCamille) October 24, 2026
Bout Dropped From Card between Biyarslanov and Delgado
However, Biyarslanov apparently won’t be in the ring on Saturday. Biyarslanov was originally scheduled to face Lindolfo Delgado of Mexico for the vacant IBF World Super Lightweight title.
But as of Sunday evening, both Delgado and his trainer, Robert Garcia, were still in the U.S. Garcia has been vocal about the lack of travel planning and information provided to him. Both he and Delgado expressed serious concerns about the conditions involved in making the trip.
While in San Antonio, Texas, working the corner of Albert Gonzalez Saturday night, Garcia spoke with reporter Francisco Salazar about the situation. He acknowledged that his fighter Delgado would still want to show up, “because fighters fight.”
But from his perspective as Delgado’s trainer, Garcia pointed out that even if he and Delgado left from California for Riyadh on Monday, they would be routed through an airport out of harm’s way, then drive for several hours to Riyadh, arriving on Tuesday at the earliest. They would end up with just two days to get acclimated, prepare for the fight, and for Delgado to make weight.
Robert Garcia Explains His Dilemma
“We’re a week away from the fight in Saudi. It’s on the other side of the world. They never sent us any flights. They still haven’t sent us any flights,” said Garcia on Saturday night.
“I’ve been there multiple times … The first three or four days, you’re walking around like a zombie. We’re falling asleep in the middle of the day. It’s tough. Right now, if we were to leave tomorrow … it’s already Monday in Saudi. It takes a day to get there. They’re going to take us to another airport. We’re going to drive five hours, six hours. We’re going to get there Tuesday. They’re only going to give me Wednesday and Thursday to make weight? To get used to the time change, It’s impossible.
“If we would have had our flights a week ago and said we didn’t want to go, that would be different. But we were always ready,” said Garcia. He said with Delgado’s opponent already in Riyadh for several days, it sets up an unfair situation.
New Opponent for Divino Espinoza
In another schedule change, the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission which officially oversees combat sports in Riyadh, declined to authorize Lorenzo Parra of Venezuela (24-1-1, 18 KOs) as an opponent for WBO World Featherweight champion Rafael “Divino” Espinoza of Guadalajara (28-0, 24 KOs). WBO President Gustavo Olivieri announced on Friday, October 24, that Ricardo Blandon of Nicaragua (21-6, 14 KOs) will step in as a replacement opponent.
No reason has been given why Parra, the WBO number one contender, was not sanctioned for the fight. Blandon, age 34, is a super featherweight who has never fought outside Central America with no notable opponents save a loss to former champion Rene Alvardo in 2024.
However, he fought at 115 pounds as recently as 2022, and at 5-foot-8, he’ll give up only five inches to the 6-foot-1 Espinoza.
Featherweight David Picasso of Mexico and super featherweight Reito Tsusumi of Japan have confirmed their safe arrival in Riyadh for their undercard fights.
Fight Week Schedule for Mexico vs the World
All fighters on the card make their first public appearance as the grand arrivals kick off Fight Week events on Wednesday, October 28.
The fight pre-fight news conference takes place on Thursday, October 29, and will air live on DAZN Boxing at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT (9 p.m. in Riyadh.
Weigh-ins are scheduled on Friday, October 30, also airing live on DAZN Boxing at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
Ongoing Safety Alerts Remain in Place
The U.S. State Department is maintaining its travel advisories for the Middle East, including a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory for Saudi Arabia including conflict escalation, flight cancellations, and airspace closures. On Oct. 23, all U.S. non-essential government personnel were ordered to return to the U.S. from the region.
A Level 3 alert is labeled “Reconsider Travel” and covers Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Isreal, and the West Bank. Details here.
The State Department cites active threats from Iranian drone and missile targeting along with attacks and threats from Houthi rebels in Yemen directed at Saudi territory, infrastructure, and American interests. Falling debris from intercepted projectiles also poses a danger. This is not the highest alert level. Level 4 is “Do Not Travel.”
Although the King Khalid Airport in Riyadh is reported open, this does not mean a return to normal schedules. Dozens of international fights are still suspended with multiple airlines no longer flying to Saudi Arabia for now. Flights must secure prior permission from Saudi aviation authorities to land or take off.
The governments of Canada and Mexico also continue to warn citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to the region, including Saudi Arabia.
Nevertheless, the Mexico vs the World card appears to be full steam ahead, even if individual fights drop off the card. This is not unusual in boxing, even when drones are launching missiles near the venue.
Mexico vs the World Fight Card
Main Event
- Canelo Álvarez of Guadalajara, Mexico (63-3-2, 39 KOs) vs. Christian Mbilli of Montreal, Quebec, Canada (29-0-1. 24 KOs), for Mbilli’s WBC World Super Middleweight title
Undercard Bouts
- Jaime Munguia of Tijuana, Mexico (46-2,35 KOs) vs.Nikita Zon of Russia (12-0-1, 10 KOs) for Munguia’s WBA World Super Middleweight title
- Rafael Espinoza of Mexico (28-0,24 KOs) vs. Ricardo Blandon of Nicaragua (21-6, 14 KOs) for Espinoza’s WBO World Super Featherweight title
- David Picasso of Colima, Mexico (33-1-1, 18 KOs) vs.Carl Martin of the Philippines (28-0, 21 KOs) for the WBC Silver Featherweight title
- Bek Nurmaganbet of Kazakhstan (16-0, 14 KOs) vs. Marcos Vazquez Rodriguez of Tijuana, Mexico (21-3-1, 10 KOs), super middleweights.
- Reito Tsutsumi of Japan (5-0, 4 KOs) vs. Raymundo Rojas Garcia of Mexico (16-2, 11 KOs), featherweights
- Bryan Leon of Cuba (12-0, 9 KOs) vs. Hector Aguirre of Mexico (7-0, 3 KOs), super middleweights
- Emiliano Rojo Vazquez of Mexico (21-0, 8 KOs) vs. Flavius Biea of Romania (24-3, 12 KOs), middleweights.
- Sultan Al-Mohammed of Saudi Arabia (5-0,4 KOs) vs. Erick Villegas of Mexico (5-2-3, 1 KO), lightweights
Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist with more than four dozen awards for both written and video coverage from the Boxing Writers Association of America, Society of Professional Journalists, and San Diego Press Club, where she is the past president. She is the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the BWAA. She is the Boxing Editor for NY Fights based in San Diego, California.
