A blockbuster undercard is being promised for Canelo Alvarez’s battle against WBC champion Christian Mbilli, and now it seems as though the first supporting act is close to being delivered, with a world title bout expected to be added to the bill.
Canelo lost his undisputed title to Terence Crawford last September, but has been sidelined with a elbow injury since, whilst Crawford’s retirement caused the fragmentation of the super-middleweight titles – with Mbilli being elevated to become the WBC’s super-middleweight champion.
However, after losing as a super-middleweight for the first time, Canelo has opted to swerve retirement and remain in the sport, agreeing to a shot at Mbilli’s title in an attempt to re-establish himself as the top dog in the 168lb division.
Despite the previous announcement of a September 12 fight date, the Riyadh event, which is understood to have a ‘Mexico vs The World’ theme, has now been postponed until October.
Nevertheless, ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez has revealed that the recently-ordered vacant IBF super-lightweight world title bout between Mexico’s Lindolfo Delgado and Canada’s Arthur Biyarslanov, who shares the same promoter as Mbilli (Eye of the Tiger), is expected to bolster the card.
“Lindolfo Delgado vs Artur Biyarslanov as backup for Mexico vs The World #CaneloMbilli
“Sources revealed to @ESPNKnockOut that #DelgadoBiyarslanov for the vacant IBF Super Lightweight could take place on the undercard of Canelo vs Mbilli.”
In line with those reports, sources close to the event have informed Boxing News that Delgado-Biyarslanov was set for the original September 12 date but will need to be re-agreed for the that new proposed October date, with talks expected to be somewhat of a formality.
