Delgado absent from Riyadh as IBF 140-pound title fight looks off; Canelo-Mbilli on

The main event is going ahead on paper, but the undercard is already cracking. Dan Rafael reported that Lindolfo Delgado, trainer Robert Garcia and the team remained in the US with no travel booked for the vacant IBF 140-pound title fight with Arthur Biyarslanov, who was already in Riyadh. Asked whether the fight would happen, Rafael's source said "probably not."

Biyarslanov's coach Samuel Décarie-Drolet then told The Canadian Press that Delgado has yet to arrive and that promoters are looking for a new opponent. He said he understands Delgado may have security concerns, but noted that Biyarslanov, his camp and every other fighter on the card reached Riyadh safely. World Boxing News goes further and says Delgado has withdrawn over safety and a lack of transparency on travel. The promotion has not commented.

The cause is the security situation. Saudi Civil Defense issued shelter alerts for Riyadh and other cities on Oct. 25, followed by an all-clear. On Oct. 26 the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile fired toward Riyadh. The Houthis claimed another attack on King Khalid International Airport and oil pumping stations, which Saudi authorities had not confirmed when Reuters reported it.

Preparations for the main event continue. Riyadh Season chief Turki Alalshikh welcomed Canelo and Oleksandr Usyk to the city while sharing the Civil Defense warning. Canelo has said he does not want to pull out, and Mbilli's promoter Camille Estephan said Mbilli will travel as planned. Some fans online have called for a move or postponement, and World Boxing News reports that Oscar De La Hoya has criticized Alalshikh over Canelo's safety.

The fight itself carries real stakes. Mbilli, 29-0-1 according to CroRing, defends the WBC belt for the first time, after a split draw with Lester Martinez on the Canelo-Terence Crawford card. Canelo, 36, is back for the first time since losing a unanimous decision to Crawford that night, and has not stopped an opponent since Caleb Plant in 2021.

Delgado, 24-0 according to Top Rank, was meant to fight for a belt vacated by Richardson Hitchins. If he is out, it is unclear whether Biyarslanov gets a replacement opponent. Watch for an official statement on the undercard and for any change to the Oct. 31 date.