Canelo and Mbilli make weight: Riyadh world title fight is on tonight
Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez weighed 167.6lb, champion Christian Mbilli 167.8lb. The WBC super-middleweight title fight takes place in Riyadh on Saturday night.
Archive image · Photo: Box Azteca / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 (cropped and resized)
Both fighters made the 168lb limit at Friday's weigh-in in Riyadh: Canelo came in at 167.6lb, Mbilli at 167.8lb. That clears the way for the fight for Mbilli's WBC super-middleweight belt on Saturday night, with ring walks expected around 8.30pm UK time. The main undercard fighters also made weight, including Jaime Munguía (167.4) vs Nikita Zon (167.5) and WBO champion Rafael Espinoza (125.8) vs Ricardo Blandón (126).
"I'm the challenger now, but in my mind I've always been the champion, ever since I was a little kid," Canelo said, according to Sky Sports. "I don't believe in shortcuts. I want to become a world champion again." Mbilli, unbeaten in 30 pro fights (one draw), replied: "I have a lot of respect for Canelo and his career. But inside the ring, it will be a different story, and I'm coming to win."
It is Canelo's first fight since his defeat to Terence Crawford. The event goes ahead despite tensions in the region; Sky Sports reports that other sporting events in the kingdom have recently been postponed or cancelled. DAZN is broadcasting the card.