Canelo Alvarez is discussing a farewell fight at Estadio Azteca, but Christian Mbilli could accelerate those retirement plans on October 31. With two fights remaining on his Saudi deal, the 36-year-old faces an unbeaten pressure fighter who could make his proposed four or five remaining appearances look optimistic.
Canelo returns from his September 2025 defeat to Terence Crawford to challenge Mbilli for the WBC super middleweight title. This is a demanding opponent for a fighter trying to establish how much he has left after more than two decades as a professional.
Mbilli’s approach should give Canelo opportunities to counter, but taking advantage requires sustained work. If Canelo spends long stretches waiting for openings while Mbilli keeps throwing, the younger fighter could force him into a pace he struggles to maintain.
Meanwhile, Canelo has already spoken with Club America owner Emilio Azcarraga about boxing at Mexico City’s famous stadium.
“I want my last fight to be in Mexico,” Canelo told ESPN. “For one reason or another, Emilio Azcarraga wanted to speak with me. So we got in touch, had a Zoom call and discussed the possibility of having a fight there in the future, yes, I can definitely see myself fighting there.”
A homecoming would be an attractive way to finish, particularly after fighting just once in Mexico since 2012. However, completing his Saudi agreement and remaining competitive enough to pursue several more bouts are separate questions.
Losing to Crawford allowed Canelo to point toward an exceptional opponent. A defeat against Mbilli, especially one in which he cannot handle the pressure, would make the discussion about his decline harder to dismiss.
Canelo can still shorten exchanges with hard counters and punish Mbilli for coming forward carelessly. October 31 will show whether those weapons remain enough against a younger fighter determined to keep him working. His farewell venue may already be taking shape; his performance against Mbilli could help decide how soon he needs it.