Canelo, Mbilli Make 76kg Weight for Riyadh Title Fight as 2 Missiles Are Intercepted
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Oct 30
Canelo, Mbilli Make 76kg Weight for Riyadh Title Fight as 2 Missiles Are Intercepted
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Oct 30
Summary
Christian Mbilli and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez both weighed in at 12st (76kg) for Saturday's WBC super-middleweight title bout in Riyadh, completing a tense but respectful face-off.
The weigh-in went ahead 24 hours after Saudi authorities intercepted two ballistic missiles over Riyadh, with shrapnel causing minor damage and injuring one civilian.
Security concerns have grown after an earlier October missile strike on King Khalid International Airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, complicating travel for fight attendees.
Mbilli, unbeaten in 30 fights, is making his first defense after being elevated to champion in January, while Alvarez enters his 69th bout seeking a world title again after his 2025 loss to Terence Crawford.
The event has continued even as other Saudi sports fixtures were canceled and the UK advises against all but essential travel to the kingdom, underscoring combat sports' willingness to proceed amid regional conflict.