Canelo Alvarez has at most two fights remaining before retiring from boxing, according to veteran promoter Lou DiBella. Alvarez will defend his super middleweight title against Christian Mbilli on 31 October in Riyadh, entering the bout under heightened pressure.
Speaking on The Last Stand with Brian Custer, DiBella reflected on the champion’s future while acknowledging his status as boxing’s primary commercial attraction.
“Canelo is still elite,” DiBella said.
“I drafted Canelo in that same draft, knowing Canelo only had probably one or two fights left. You know why? Canelo is still that force. He’s still that star. He, even in retirement, will exercise great power in the boxing industry. Canelo has carried the sport for a number of years. The old guard can thank Canelo for keeping them around longer.”
DiBella’s retirement forecast places extra emphasis on the upcoming defense in Saudi Arabia. Alvarez has modified his ring work in recent fights, relying increasingly on single power punches while conserving energy. He no longer regularly throws the quick two-punch combinations that previously allowed him to break opponents down. Mbilli, by contrast, relies on continuous pressure and high output. That volume could force Alvarez to fight at a tempo he can no longer sustain over twelve rounds.
The stakes in Riyadh extend beyond a single title defense. When Terence Crawford outboxed Alvarez, an elbow injury was later offered as an excuse for the performance. Following his earlier loss to Dmitry Bivol, Alvarez chose not to pursue a rematch, with supporters accepting the result because it occurred in a higher weight division.
That allowance will not apply against Mbilli at super middleweight. Without a physical size disparity to explain a setback, a clear defeat would leave Alvarez with an uncomfortable choice. He would either have to attempt to avenge the loss or accept that his period of dominance has come to an end.
