Boxing
Canelo Álvarez will face WBC champion Christian Mbilli on September 12 in Riyad
Published
3 weeks agoon
By Boxing Insider Staff
Canelo Álvarez will return to the ring on September 12 in Riyad to face WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh announced from London on Saturday.
Until the fight, it will have been a year since Álvarez faced Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. According to data released by the organization, the event attracted over 41 million viewers on Netflix, making it one of the most watched boxing broadcasts in history.
Álvarez, the former undisputed super middleweight champion, returns to Saudi Arabia with the WBC title in his sights. The Mexican made nine successful saves during a reign at the top of the league that lasted almost five years before losing the undisputed crown to Crawford last September.
Mbilli’s path to the WBC title
Mbilli will enter the fight as the current WBC champion. The Montreal-based French-Cameroonian won the interim title with a win over Maciej Sulecki in June and was promoted to full champion in January. He remains undefeated and previously appeared on the Álvarez vs. card. Crawford during the Riyad season.
“My last fight was the fight of the year,” Mbilli said in a statement released by the promotion. “In September against Canelo Alvarez, it will be the fight of the decade. And when the fight is over, the world will witness my historic victory.
Canelo in the match
Álvarez, who will turn 36 in July, addressed the decision in a statement.
“After so many years in this sport, my motivation is still the same: to challenge myself, represent Mexico and continue to build my legacy,” Álvarez said. “Mbilli is undefeated and he is a great fighter and I respect that. But my focus is always on preparation, performance and giving the fans another great night of boxing. On September 12 in Riyad, we start a modern chapter with the same discipline, ambition and vision that has accompanied me throughout my career.”
Press conference for Cairo
The press conference is scheduled for Saturday, May 23 at 2:00 p.m. local time in Cairo. This will be the first confrontation between both players.
The card is a continuation of the season’s boxing program in Riyad, overseen by Alalshikh, whose list of events supported by Saudi Arabia over the last two years, it has changed the calendar of sporting events. Riyad season organizers recorded more than 17 million visitors for the 2025 edition, following the 2024 edition which exceeded 20 million.
Broadcast details, ticket information and undercard fights for the September 12 event have not yet been announced.
You may like
Boxing
Seldon Jr. vs. Popper: Two undefeated heavyweights headline a seven-fight, three-state show at Tropicana, June 13
Published
1 hour agoon
June 7, 2026
Boxing Insider Promotions returns to Tropicana Atlantic City on Saturday, June 13
Boxing Insider Promotions invites you to another exhilarating night of professional boxing at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City on Saturday, June 13. The seven-fight card is packed with tri-state talent, undefeated prospects and the type of fights that keep fans on their toes.
Buy tickets to Seldon vs Popper Boxing Insider at Tropicana Atlantic City on June 13
Main Event: Bruce Seldon Jr. vs. Josh Popper (6 rounds, heavyweight)
This is the fight Atlantic City has been waiting for. Two undefeated heavyweights from South Jersey, 13 knockouts between them, zero losses on either record. Bruce Seldon Jr. of Smithville and Josh Popper of Egg Harbor Township are on a collision course, and only one makes it out with his zero intact. Six rounds may be more than any fighter needs.
Co-feature: Daiyaan Butt vs. Willmank Canonico Brito (8 rounds, super lightweight, 142 lbs)
Daiyaan Butt of Philadelphia is the most experienced fighter on the card, and his risky opponent is Willmank Canonico Brito of Rosarito, Mexico. Brito has 11 knockouts and it wasn’t an basic night for anyone. Eight rounds at 142 gives both men plenty of time to work.
Damian Tinnerello vs. Abdalla Nagy (6 rounds, super middleweight, 156 pounds)
In Berlin, Modern Jersey’s Damian Tinnerello serves his country in the U.S. Air Force and punishes his opponents in the ring. The undefeated super middleweight has stopped four of his five opponents and returns to the Tropicana against Albuquerque’s Abdalla Nagy.
Kahshad Elliott vs. Scottie Stockman (6 rounds, super middleweight, 156 pounds)
Kahshad Elliott of Plainfield scares people away. Six knockouts in seven fights, no losses, no close fights. Scottie Stockman from Medford, Oregon, is flying across the country to try to change that. Good luck.
Julio Sanchez III vs. Shawn Rall (4 rounds, lightweight)
If you leave your place for this, you will regret it. Julio Sanchez III of Pleasantville is a high-pressure fighter who struggles all night long, and Shawn Rall of Bedford, Ohio, is not the type of fighter to support. Fight of the night is written all over it.
Jahanzeb Rizwan (4 rounds, middleweight)
Jahanzeb Rizwan of the Bronx won his professional debut by stoppage and returns to the ring looking to capitalize on that momentum. The opponent will be announced.
David Malul vs. Julius Thomas (4 rounds, welterweight)
Undefeated welterweight David Malul makes his Atlantic City debut against Youngstown’s Julius Thomas. The Queens resident, who observes the Sabbath, will enter the ring after sunset.
Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster.
Buy tickets to Seldon vs Popper Boxing Insider at Tropicana Atlantic City on June 13
Boxing
Tim Bradley compares O’Shaquie Foster to Terence Crawford
Published
3 hours agoon
June 7, 2026
Tim Bradley often sees Terence Crawford in O’Shaquie Foster. The former two-division world champion Hall of Famer had high praise for Foster when reviewing his recent performance on his YouTube channel, comparing the former WBC super featherweight world champion to one of boxing’s greatest fighters.
“That damn boy O’Shaquie Foster. 2.0 to Crawford. 2.0 Crawford” Bradley said on his channel.
“This kid is bad. He doesn’t have the punching power or killer instinct of Terence Crawford. But damn, he can do it from both ends. He’s glossy on both sides.”
Bradley spent most of his breakdown praising Foster’s in-ring IQ, adaptability and ability to adjust during fights. He believes these traits set Foster apart from many fighters in the division and allow him to control opponents with movement, feints and timing.
“That’s probably boxing IQ, if you can decipher that. And that’s O’Shaquie Foster,” Bradley said.
The praise didn’t end there.
Bradley also discussed a potential fight between O’Shaquie and Shakur Stevenson. The fight has gained increasing interest since Foster challenged Stevenson following his victory over Raymond Ford.
Although Bradley ultimately favors Shakur, he believes O’Shaquie will cause more problems than many fans expect.
“This is the reason I feel this way O’Shaquie is causing some problems for Shakur,Bradley said.
“Do I think he’s going to beat Shakur? No. Hell no. But I think he has a damn good chance of upsetting the apple cart.”
Bradley cited Foster’s experience, versatility and ability to fight from a variety of positions as the reason he thinks the former champion might make Stevenson uncomfortable.
Despite this, Bradley still believes that Stevenson will have the advantage in the fight if the fight is made. He disagrees with the growing belief that O’Shaquie will be completely outclassed.
Bradley’s assessment suggests that Foster’s skills may be good enough to make the potential matchup much more competitive than many fans currently expect.

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.
Click here to sign up for our FREE newsletter
Related boxing news:
Last update: 2026/06/07 at 13:58
Boxing
Roberto Duran says he shouldn’t have fought a single fight: ‘It was wrong’
Published
5 hours agoon
June 7, 2026
Roberto Duran believes his manager forced him into an unfavorable fight shortly after he was seriously injured in a car accident.
The Hall of Famer is perhaps best known for his encounters with Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns, whom he fought above his natural weight class of 135 pounds.
Against Leonard, he captured the WBC welterweight title with a unanimous decision victory in 1980, before losing the rematch by eighth-round stoppage later that year.
Duran next faced Hagler and Hearns at middleweight and super welterweight respectively, but suffered back-to-back losses to his fellow champions in 1983 and 1984.
However, the Panamanian particularly excelled at lightweight, winning his first world title with a controversial 13th-round stoppage of Ken Buchanan in 1972.
Duran then defended the WBA title twice he suffered his first defeat against Esteban de Jesuswho went down and passed “Hands of Stone” the same year he won the belt.
While talking to One-on-one boxingHowever, Duran explained that his manager Carlos Eleta was to blame for the unanimous decision loss.
“It was wrong – I’ll tell you why. Carlos Eleta shouldn’t have taken that fight because I had a car accident. I broke my spine [arm] and my mouth was broken.
“I believe Carlos Eleta just wanted money from Roberto Duran. I still had swelling and bleeding in my mouth and my elbow was broken. I still have a hole there [points to right elbow].
“The only good thing Esteban de Jesus did was throw me. When he threw me, I got up and won the fight.
“They gave it to him because then and even today [Madison Square Garden, New York]Puerto Ricans are in power.”
While Duran’s notion of the Puerto Rican’s superiority in Up-to-date York is perhaps far-fetched, he is nevertheless correct that Esteban was unable to defeat a fully functional version of himself.
This was confirmed by an 11th-round rematch victory two years later, and further evidence was Duran’s triumph over Esteban in the 12th round in 1978.
Seldon Jr. vs. Popper: Two undefeated heavyweights headline a seven-fight, three-state show at Tropicana, June 13
Tim Bradley compares O’Shaquie Foster to Terence Crawford
Roberto Duran says he shouldn’t have fought a single fight: ‘It was wrong’
Trending
-
Opinions & Features1 year agoPacquiao vs marquez competition: History of violence
-
MMA1 year agoDmitry Menshikov statement in the February fight
-
Results1 year agoStephen Fulton Jr. becomes world champion in two weight by means of a decision
-
Results1 year agoKeyshawn Davis Ko’s Berinchyk, when Xander Zayas moves to 21-0
-
Video1 year agoFrank Warren on Derek Chisora vs Otto Wallin – ‘I THOUGHT OTTO WOULD GIVE DEREK PROBLEMS!’
-
Analysis1 year agoRobert Garcia discusses the debate on the greatest Mexican warrior in history
-
Video1 year ago‘DEREK CHISORA RETIRE TONIGHT!’ – Anthony Yarde PLEADS for retirement after WALLIN
-
Results1 year agoLive: Catterall vs Barboza results and results card



