Canelo Main Event Delayed in Riyadh
Canelo Alvarez's bout with Christian Mbilli had not started at its expected time as the Munguia-Zon title fight continued.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Boxing
Canelo Alvarez's scheduled main event against WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, did not begin at its anticipated start time. The delay came while Jaime Munguia and Nikita Zon were still competing in a 12-round WBA super middleweight world title bout on the Mexico vs. The World card.
Why it matters
The timing shift affected the broadcast schedule for viewers of the DAZN pay-per-view main card, and fans voiced criticism of the pacing on social media. The delay highlights how the sequencing of preliminary bouts can directly shape when a headline fight reaches audiences.
The Munguia-Zon WBA super middleweight bout was scheduled for 12 rounds, while the DAZN main card was set to start at 1 pm ET with the Alvarez-Mbilli walkouts expected around 4:30 pm ET. The exact length of the delay and the final start time of the main event were not reported.
The players
Canelo Alvarez
Canelo Alvarez is a Mexican boxer widely regarded as one of the sport's biggest drawing names, known for his multi-division championship career.
Christian Mbilli
Christian Mbilli is a French-Canadian boxer who holds the WBC super middleweight title and was set to face Alvarez in the main event.
Jaime Munguia
Jaime Munguia is a Mexican super middleweight boxer who competed in the WBA world title bout on the undercard before the main event.
Nikita Zon
Nikita Zon is a boxer who faced Jaime Munguia in the 12-round WBA super middleweight world title bout that preceded the main event.
The details
Preliminary bouts were scheduled to begin around 10 am ET, with the DAZN pay-per-view main card slated for 1 pm ET. The anticipated start time for the Alvarez-Mbilli ring walks passed without the main event beginning as Munguia and Zon continued their title fight.
Timeline
Preliminary bouts were scheduled to start around 10 am ET on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
The DAZN pay-per-view main card was scheduled to start at 1 pm ET on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Alvarez and Mbilli were expected to make their ring walks around 4:30 pm ET on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Season Trajectory
Scheduling of pay-per-view cards in Saudi Arabia has increasingly placed high-profile fights in time slots dependent on the pacing of preliminary bouts, a pattern that makes timing reliability a recurring issue for broadcasters. This delay adds to questions about how such events manage start times for international audiences.
Viewers planning to watch the DAZN pay-per-view should expect the main event to start later than the original 1 pm ET main card time suggested. Fans following fantasy or wagering around the card should track the actual ring walk times as the schedule shifts.
The takeaway
Delays in pay-per-view boxing cards can shift a headline fight's start time well past its published schedule, so viewers should allow extra time before the main event. Checking live broadcast updates on the day of the event helps avoid missing the opening rounds.
Further reading
For more on the sport's major fight cards and their scheduling, explore our Boxing coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hindustan Times.
