Oscar De La Hoya believes Canelo Alvarez is entering the final phase of his career and indicated that his September fight against Christian Mbilli is heading in that direction.

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It has been reported that the Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli has been signed and is scheduled to take place on Mexican Independence Day weekend in September 2026, although the exact date has not been officially confirmed.

De La Hoya said Alvarez is no longer at the same stage of his career as he was before.

“Every fighter has his peak and then you start to see a clear exit and Canelo is right there,” De La Hoya told Sean Zittel. “He’s still a few fights away from retirement don’t blame him for taking the money and running away. I don’t blame him. I mean, clever guy.

De La Hoya’s “cash-out” narrative seems disconnected from the tactical reality of this matchup. Calling Christian Mbilla a “take the money and run” suggests that Oscar may have been interested in name recognition rather than the film.

If a player is looking for an uncomplicated way out, you don’t go for a 31-year-old power hitter like Mbilli.

Canelo is 35, recovering from surgery on his left elbow and coming off a decisive loss to Crawford where he looked stagnant in the championship rounds. Fighting a fighter like Mbilli in Riyad is a huge risk.

De La Hoya admitted that Alvarez still has significant fights left before he leaves.

“He still has some good fights ahead of him against great fighters,” Oscar said.

If Mbilli drowns Canelo or even “destroys” him, De La Hoya’s schedule for the remaining “good fights” will immediately evaporate. The perception that he has a few left suggests he can still compete at an elite level, but the 168-pound division has shifted toward younger, more impressive fighters.

Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most critical fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.

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Last update: 2026/05/01 at 17:31

Oscar De La Hoya’s ongoing criticism of boxing’s regulatory direction has gained renewed focus after Mark Kriegel’s comments about Zuffa Boxing were amplified by the organization itself, sparking a transparency dispute that is now on the verge of legal escalation.

At the center of this discussion is Gustavo Olivieri, lawyer and president of the World Boxing Organization, who responded directly to the Kriegel-Zuffa discussion and the allegations regarding sanctioning bodies and transparency standards.

Olivieri said any allegations of wrongdoing must be supported by evidence and dealt with through formal legal channels, warning that unverified claims cannot be treated as fact in the public arena of boxing.

He added that if evidence exists, it should be provided through appropriate investigative channels, including law enforcement channels such as the FBI, strengthening the process – not public discussion – of deciding what matters.

Strengthening the fight intensifies the disputes

The situation changed after Zuffa Boxing shared Kriegel’s comments in their “Transparency is Our Goal” message, taking the discussion straight to their own promotional narrative.

Kriegel’s remarks, made on the Boxing with Mannix and Mora podcast, focused on fighter disputes, legal history and transparency issues in the current boxing landscape.

He addressed Oscar De La Hoya’s involvement in high-profile fighter situations involving Canelo Alvarez, Ryan Garcia and Vergil Ortiz, part of an ongoing challenge to disclosure standards across the sport.

This amplification pushed the argument beyond commentary, bringing promotional, legal and regulatory voices into the same developing situation.

The pressure is mounting ahead of the fight weekend

In the hours before an significant weekend, everything intensified in boxing.

There will be multiple title fights and there is expected to be movement in the overall picture pound for pound.

Attention is now turning to the structure proposed by Zuffa Boxing, which is at the center of disputes over player contracts, control and remuneration in a centralized system.

Wider implications for boxing

At its heart is Ali’s bill – and whether the proposed changes could reshape boxing at the highest level, particularly in terms of fighter autonomy, promotional control and earning opportunities.

Supporters say reform can ensure financial coherence and stability. Critics, including De La Hoya’s recent comments, warn it could concentrate control, reduce flexibility and change the way athletes move through the sport.

What began as a debate over transparency has now turned into something bigger – a structural conflict over how boxing is run, who controls it and where it goes next.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has been interviewing world champions, breaking down international titles exclusively and reporting from the ring. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.

Gervonta Davis’ return may soon become clear as “real talks” with the opponent are expected to happen “very soon.”

The 31-year-old has not fought since March 2025, when he defended the WBA lightweight world title after a controversial draw with Lamont Roach.

“Tank” has since been recognized as a “champion in hiatus” by the WBA, mainly due to his passivity, but also due to allegations of domestic violence.

Such allegations made by his former partner, Courtney Rossel, resulted in Davis being removed from a canceled exhibition match against Jake Paul last November.

Recently, however, the fighter from Baltimore announced his return to the ring, mentioning Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz – whom he unanimously named in 2021 – as a potential opponent at 140 pounds.

However, if he wants to regain his former WBA title, Davis will most likely be ordered to fight the sanctioning organization’s No. 1 contender at 135 pounds, Floyd Schofield.

In pursuit of the ‘tank’ fight, ‘Kid Austin’s father and trainer, Schofield Sr., stated that talks are ongoing about the two fighters meeting in July.

Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya confirmed these talks to the media Fighting Hub TVbut he also wondered whether the 23-year-old he was promoting was ready for such a huge challenge.

“There will be real talks soon. If “Kid Austin” wants to take on “Tank”, then I, as the promoter, [that’s] what I need to get for him.

“As a promoter, I still feel like I would give him one more fight and then attack ‘Tank.’ But if he wants it right away, let’s go.

“In my opinion it would not be the right decision, but if the father and the child want it, I will have to insist.

“I’m not sure what ‘Tank’ Davis is doing exactly, but I hear he wants to fight in the third quarter of this year.”

Schofield hasn’t fought since last June, when the best victory of his career came after a first-round stoppage of former world champion Tevin Farmer.