Oscar De La Hoya wants Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli pulled out of Riyadh, and he isn’t being polite about it. The longtime promoter went after both Canelo and Turki Alalshikh on social media this week, arguing that the October 31 fight puts everyone working the event at risk while missile and drone attacks keep hitting Saudi Arabia. MiddleEasy and MMA Mania both reported on the posts.
The backdrop is ugly. According to MMA Mania, dozens of missile and drone attacks have targeted Saudi infrastructure and Saudi allies this month as part of the ongoing conflict with the Houthis. That includes multiple strikes on the Riyadh airport that killed more than a dozen people and injured hundreds. On Thursday, Aden’s Palace and presidential complex was also bombed, with five casualties and more people hurt.
Alalshikh isn’t budging. He posted that Canelo personally assured him the fight is still on. “Canelo reached out and told me he’ll still fight in Riyadh this October, no matter what happens. He fears nothing,” Turki wrote, adding that his country is a land of peace and safety.
De La Hoya took that fearless line and ran straight through it. He cited 13 dead and more than 300 injured at King Khalid International Airport and noted, “That airport is closed until further notice.” Then he went after the logistics. “Canelo might not have any fear because he’s flying into a private airport!” he wrote, before asking about everyone else tied to the event. “How is this event not canceled?”
He also pointed out that Riyadh has already moved another sporting event. “Look, Riyadh already moved the tennis event that was scheduled for next week. So do the right thing and move this event.” He seemed genuinely stunned that Canelo hasn’t said anything. “He’s okay putting people’s lives as risk for this money grab?”
De La Hoya also took a shot at Alalshikh and Saudi entertainment authority SELA over their grip on boxing coverage. “Turki and SELA, you bought off most of the media in boxing but you can’t do it with the global news,” he wrote. He signed off with this: “Value human life and safety over your financial interests.”
Already Delayed Once
This fight has been pushed back before. Canelo vs. Mbilli was originally set for September 12 before being postponed to Halloween, and MMA Mania suggested that history may be part of why nobody wants to move it again.
The fallout could reach well past boxing. TKO has two Saudi dates coming up. WWE Crown Jewel is scheduled for November 7, and the UFC has an event in the country on December 5. That UFC card is reportedly targeting an Israel Adesanya return against another flashy striker for the headliner, so expect the same safety questions to land on Dana White’s desk soon.
My take: I love a fighter who says he fears nothing. That’s the right attitude for walking into a ring with Christian Mbilli. It’s the wrong standard for planning an event while the city’s main airport is shut down after deadly strikes. Canelo gets the private runway. The cut men, camera crews, security staff, and fans don’t. When the tennis people have already packed up and left, insisting on a boxing card two weeks later looks more stubborn than brave. Canelo has stayed quiet so far, and he’s the one guy Turki would actually listen to. If he speaks up, this fight moves. If he doesn’t, he’s asking a lot of people to fly into Riyadh on October 31 on his word that it’ll all be fine.
