RIYADH — The WBC super-middleweight title clash between Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli will still go ahead on Saturday, 31 October at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, despite the US State Department ordering non-essential embassy staff and their family members to evacuate Saudi Arabia today.
According to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, “The U.S. Department of State issued an ordered departure for non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia,” explaining that “Iranian-supported Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions.” Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis launched an attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport last Saturday, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 300. That prompted Washington to issue a “Level 3 – Reconsider Travel” advisory for most of Saudi Arabia, with areas near the Yemeni border placed under the more serious “Level 4 – Do Not Travel” advisory.
Despite the diplomatic development, Saudi Arabian officials have maintained the DAZN-televised event will proceed as planned at Kingdom Arena, headlined by four-division champion Alvarez’s attempt to regain the WBC super-middleweight title now held by Mbilli. Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalshikh told BoxingScene last week the fight will go ahead “no matter what happens,” and this week published a fight-week schedule listing grand arrivals on Wednesday, 28 October, a press conference on Thursday, 29 October, the ceremonial weigh-in on Friday, 30 October, and fight night on Saturday, with ring walks expected around 9:00 pm local Riyadh time.
Since the airport attack, the rebels have expanded hostilities with drone and ballistic missile attacks across Saudi Arabia and Yemen, targeting oil infrastructure, regional airports and military installations. According to CNN, “The State Department also warned in a security alert on Wednesday that US citizens should be aware of potential attacks on airports and general travel disruptions.”