Alvarez Returns To Ring Against WBC Champ Mbilli In Riyadh

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has not fought since September 2025, when Terence Crawford took his undisputed super middleweight title. Alvarez returns to the ring Saturday against WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli.

Mbilli holds the belt after being elevated from interim champion following Crawford's retirement. He enters with a power-punching style and has not won the title in a fight. Alvarez enters as a challenger after a run of championship bouts across nearly two decades.

Alvarez said at the final press conference that he does not want a shortcut to another title. "I don't believe in shortcuts. I'm going straight for the champion because I already have the experience," he said. "I've been a champion for many years and I want to be a champion again."

The undercard at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, includes Jaime Munguia against Nikita Zon, Rafael Espinoza against Ricardo Blandon for the WBO featherweight title, David Picasso against Carl Jammes Martin, and Reito Tsutsumi against Raymundo Rojas Garcia. Odds list Alvarez at -330 and Mbilli at +250 for the WBC super middleweight title.

The card begins at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 31. Ringwalks for the main event are expected around 4:30 p.m. ET. The event streams on DAZN pay-per-view at a price of $79.99.

Alvarez's loss to Crawford has been read by some observers as the result of age and accumulated ring time. He is seeking to show Saturday that he can still compete for a championship.