Canelo Alvarez-Christian Mbilli Event Facing Massive Issues
Canelo Alvarez’s next event is facing problems that go far beyond its location.
The Riyadh Season Mexico vs. the World card was supposed to showcase the return of one of boxing’s biggest stars. Instead, questions now surround nearly every part of the event.
Canelo Alvarez is scheduled to headline against Christian Mbilli for the WBC super middleweight title. The fight is currently set for October 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
However, the venue may not be the only thing changing.
On Saturday, flames and black smoke rose above Riyadh airport after drone attacks struck the city. The attacks added another layer of uncertainty to an event already dealing with significant logistical problems.
Behind the scenes, talks are reportedly underway to move the card to Las Vegas in November.
That potential move creates its own complications.
Several major boxing events were already being planned in the United States for November. As a result, the boxing calendar has become increasingly crowded.
Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney were among the fighters reportedly being considered for November returns. Those plans have apparently been slowed as the situation surrounding Canelo’s event remains unresolved.
Promoters also face a simple problem.
Nobody wants to schedule a major event directly against Canelo. Likewise, few fighters want to return just days before or after one of boxing’s biggest attractions.
Yet the location may not even represent the card’s biggest concern.
The more pressing issue involves the undercard.
The organizers have yet to finalize anything resembling a complete undercard, according to information provided to Brunch Boxing.
Several notable names have been linked to the event. Rafael Espinoza, Jaime Munguia and Bam Rodriguez have all been rumored as potential participants.
But rumors do not put fighters into training camp.
The fighters contacted for the undercard have reportedly not received key financial details. That includes information about their purses and the terms of their participation.
One boxing manager who spoke with Brunch Boxing on the condition of anonymity described the situation as highly unusual.
The manager said it appeared that “matchups were just agreed to without any type of standard boxing protocol being followed.”
That leaves fighters facing a basic question.
What are they actually being paid?
According to the manager’s account, some fighters have no purses, no term sheets and no contracts.
Without those agreements, camps cannot properly begin.
Training camps cost money. Fighters need guarantees before committing coaches, nutritionists, sparring partners and other members of their teams.
Those expenses become even more important when a fighter prepares for a major event overseas.
For some fighters, the uncertainty has reportedly prevented training camps from starting altogether.
The situation has also drawn public criticism from renowned strength and conditioning coach Angel “Memo” Heredia.
Heredia took his concerns to social media and questioned the circumstances surrounding the event.
In a post on Twitter, Heredia wrote that Canelo’s card was “huge disappointing” because of what he described as disadvantages being deliberately created for the opponents.
He also pointed to the lack of contracts, known purses and training money.
Heredia characterized the situation as a “well executed plan.”
Those comments represent Heredia’s view of the situation. The underlying reasons for the reported delays have not been independently established.
Still, his comments highlight the growing frustration among people connected to the fighters.
The uncertainty has now created another problem for the organizers.
Boxing managers are reportedly exploring other opportunities for their fighters.
That makes sense from a business standpoint. A fighter cannot indefinitely wait for paperwork while other events offer confirmed dates and guaranteed purses.
Every day without a contract can make another opportunity more attractive.
Meanwhile, promoters must balance the Canelo-Mbilli fight against the rest of the November boxing schedule.
That creates a difficult traffic jam.
Moving the event to Las Vegas could solve the immediate concerns surrounding Riyadh. However, it would also force organizers to navigate an already crowded American boxing calendar.
The result is a card caught between several moving pieces.
Canelo remains the centerpiece. Mbilli remains the scheduled challenger. Yet the supporting cast remains uncertain.
And time is running out.
An official announcement regarding the event is expected in the coming weeks.
Until then, the biggest questions remain unanswered.
Where and when will Canelo and Mbilli fight?
Which fighters will actually appear on the undercard?
And perhaps most importantly, when will those fighters receive contracts and the financial commitments needed to begin preparing?
For an event built around one of boxing’s biggest stars, those are significant questions.
The answers will determine whether the Riyadh Season Mexico vs. the World card arrives as planned or undergoes another major transformation before fight night.
Subscribe to the Brunch Boxing website, Twitter and Podcast for more updates and in-depth coverage of the world of boxing in and out of the ring.
Brunch Boxing Support Links:
Comments