RIYADH — Canelo Alvarez is scheduled to face Christian Mbilli for the WBC super-middleweight title on Saturday, October 31, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Despite the high-profile nature of the event, rival fighter David Benavidez has publicly questioned the appeal of the matchup, dismissing the anticipation surrounding the contest.
Speaking to FightHype, Benavidez expressed his lack of interest in the pairing, stating, “Nobody wants to see that. I am not trying to be a jerk but at the end of the day nobody wants to see that, who the heck is Mbilli?” Benavidez argued that Alvarez should have pursued a different opponent, adding, “I think it would have been better if he fought Diego Pacheco. Diego Pacheco has a way bigger name than Mbilli.”
Mbilli, who was elevated to full champion following a draw against Lester Martinez, enters the ring as the underdog looking to challenge Alvarez's standing in the division. Meanwhile, Pacheco is set to return to action on Saturday, November 18, against Darius Fulghum. A victory for Pacheco in that contest could position him as a potential opponent for Alvarez in a future bout.