Canelo-Mbilli stays on in Riyadh as Delgado pulls out of IBF title bout

The Riyadh card keeps losing pieces, but its main event is not moving. Lindolfo Delgado is out of his vacant IBF junior welterweight fight with Arthur Biyarslanov, and his trainer Robert Garcia says missile alerts and an unworkable travel plan left no safe way to prepare.

Garcia told BoxingScene that an attorney already in Saudi Arabia reported at least two missile alerts on phones every day. He said flights had not been provided by Friday or Saturday, so a Sunday-night departure would land Delgado in Riyadh on Tuesday for a Saturday world title fight. That left two days to adjust to the time change and cut weight. Dan Rafael wrote on X that the decision was Delgado's and his team's, not because the promotion refused to book travel.

Delgado, a 31-year-old Mexican listed at 24-0 by Bad Left Hook, was to fight for the belt Richardson Hitchins vacated. Biyarslanov's coach, Samuel Décarie-Drolet, said the fighter has reached Riyadh. The IBF has not commented and no replacement has been named. It is the second supporting title bout hit this week: Lorenzo Parra failed his pre-fight medical, so Ricardo Blandon steps in against Espinoza, according to Bad Left Hook.

The security picture explains the unease. Saudi Civil Defense issued a Riyadh alert on Oct. 29 and lifted it about 20 minutes later; neither statement named the fighters or changed the card. Separately, Anadolu reported that a coalition spokesman said air defenses intercepted two Houthi ballistic missiles heading for the capital.

Canelo, 36, said at the press conference that his mind was always on fighting in Saudi Arabia, though he heard what was being said. He returns for the first time since losing to Terence Crawford in September 2025, and he will wear trunks with the logo of Kalshi, the prediction market he joined as ambassador and investor, Forbes reported. Mbilli, the French WBC champion, is 29-0-1 and drew with Lester Martinez last time out. He told Boxing News he would offer Canelo a rematch in early 2027 if he wins.

Watch for whether Biyarslanov gets a new opponent or the bout is dropped, and for any change to the Oct. 31 date if the security situation worsens.