Canelo Álvarez intends to go ahead with his world title fight in Saudi Arabia later this month despite a series of deadly attacks on airports and other infrastructure in the kingdom, according to Turki al-Sheikh, the Saudi official who has become one of boxing’s most influential power brokers. The Mexican superstar is slated to challenge the unbeaten Christian Mbilli for the WBC super-middleweight title in Riyadh on 31 October, three weeks after Saturday’s missile strike on the Saudi capital’s main international airport killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 300. Al-Sheikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, said on Sunday that Álvarez had personally assured him he remained committed to the bout regardless of the fraught security situation.
My country is home to the two Holy Mosques, land of peace, safety, rich civilization, deep history and kind-hearted people. Thank you to everyone who checked in and showed support. Hard times reveal true friends.” The reassurance came as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensified their attacks on Saudi territory.
A second projectile struck a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport on Sunday, according to the Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen. Authorities reported further injuries but did not immediately provide a figure. Saturday’s strike, which hit the same airport complex, was the deadliest attack on a Gulf Arab country since the outbreak of the war with Iran.
India’s embassy subsequently reported that one of its citizens had died from injuries sustained in the attack, potentially raising the death toll to 13. The airport remained closed on Sunday, while the US government has urged American citizens to avoid the facility and its surrounding area. Several international airlines have suspended flights to Saudi Arabia amid the mounting threat to civilian aviation.
The Houthis, who have claimed responsibility for attacks on airports and energy facilities across the kingdom, have warned airlines and travelers against entering Saudi airspace. The escalation has raised concerns about the safety of major international events in a country that has invested heavily in establishing itself as a destination for global sport, entertainment and business. Saudi Arabia has become a major force in professional boxing under Al-Sheikh, staging a succession of high-profile bouts in Riyadh and using its considerable financial resources to attract some of the sport’s biggest names.
The kingdom’s expanding sporting ambitions have also drawn scrutiny over its human rights record and accusations of sportswashing. The latest attacks threaten those ambitions at a particularly sensitive moment. Saudi Arabia is hosting an international energy conference this week, with further major business gatherings scheduled, while the widening conflict has raised the possibility of greater US military involvement.
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