The promotion process for Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez's next fight already has a defined starting point. The work teams confirmed that the first face-to-face meeting between the Mexican and the Frenchman Christian Mbilli will take place next weekend in Giza, Egypt.

This event marks the official start of activities for the fight scheduled for September 12 in Saudi Arabia.

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The event in Egyptian territory will take advantage of the week-long fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven. During this day of May 23, Canelo Álvarez and Mbilli will appear before the media to formalize the duel for the WBC world championship.

This will be the first public approach after announcing that the final venue of the confrontation will be the city of Riyadh, under the thematic concept of “Mexico vs. the World.”

Return after a period of inactivity

For the boxer from Guadalajara, this fight means returning to action after a year away from official competitions.

Canelo Álvarez's last appearance occurred in September 2025, when he suffered a loss to Terence Crawford. Subsequently, the athlete had to undergo surgery on his elbow to correct physical discomfort, which delayed his return to high-intensity training.

Christian Mbilli, for his part, comes to this stage as an undefeated challenger with a style of constant pressure on his opponents.

The confrontation against Canelo Álvarez represents the opportunity for the France-based fighter to compete for the 168-pound titles. The event has the support of the Riyadh Season organization and the participation of the company Canelo Promotions for international logistics.

International billboard details

The September event will not only focus on the stellar combat, but also seeks to showcase other talents from the Mexican school.

Although the rivals have not been confirmed, figures such as Jaime Munguía and David Picasso are expected to be part of the program. The presence of Canelo Álvarez as the main banner ensures a global projection for this format of competition between nations.

The Mexican's physical recovery has been the determining factor in establishing this calendar of activities abroad.

At 38 years of age, Canelo Álvarez seeks to validate his validity in professional boxing by facing an active and dangerous champion. The first confrontation in Giza will serve to measure the tension between both fighters before they begin their respective final training camps.