Canelo Alvarez faces Christian Mbilli on 31 October in Riyadh, with the 36-year-old revealing he expects only three or four more fights before retiring. The former undisputed super middleweight champion aims to rebuild following his 2025 defeat to Terence Crawford.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani and CBS Mornings ahead of the bout, Alvarez addressed his long-term future candidly, acknowledging that his primary focus is beginning to shift toward business interests outside the sport. He stated: “I don’t have much left in boxing. I have other things I want to achieve outside of boxing. My body will be the one that tells me when to retire,”
The Mexican veteran enters the contest with substantial mileage after years at the summit of the sport. Following the loss of his undisputed crown to Crawford in 2025, questions remain regarding his ability to absorb high-tempo pressure over twelve rounds. Mbilli provides a formidable test. As the WBC super middleweight champion, Mbilli relies on relentless physical strength, heavy pressure, and an exceptionally high work rate. He will aim to make Alvarez fight for three minutes of every round rather than allowing the veteran to set a controlled pace.
Alvarez insists he is not mentally checked out.
However, discussing retirement so openly prior to such a demanding fixture creates deliberate questions about his long-term commitment to the sport. Mbilli is driven by what he has yet to achieve, while Alvarez is already mapping out his post-boxing goals. If Alvarez struggles against Mbilli’s sustained work rate in Saudi Arabia, his earlier comments regarding retirement will immediately be viewed as an explanation for physical decline. A dominant performance, on the other hand, would confirm he still has enough left to complete his remaining three or four fights. The outcome in Riyadh will demonstrate whether his body is ready to call time sooner than planned.
