Mexican boxing star Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez is set to headline a major fight card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this Saturday at the ANB Arena, proceeding with the event despite recent regional missile attacks that prompted other high-profile sports to evacuate the country, FAZ reported.

Multi-Million Euro Deal Shapes the Mexico vs. the World Card

The event, titled “Mexico vs. the World,” features Álvarez fighting for the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-middleweight belt against the backdrop of massive financial backing from Saudi promoter Turki Al-Sheikh. Last year, Álvarez negotiated a multi-fight agreement with Al-Sheikh reported to be worth approximately 358 million euros.

Dakar Rally Abandons Region While Combat Sports Push Forward

The staging of the boxing card comes just days after Houthi militia attacks involving missiles struck near the airport on the outskirts of Riyadh, resulting in multiple deaths and hundreds of injuries. The ANB Arena is located about a 20-minute car ride away from the airport. While the violence forced organizers of the Dakar Rally to officially abandon the region last Sunday with plans not to return until 2028, combat sports promoters and participants have pushed forward with their schedules.

Álvarez Balances 76.2-Kilogram Title Pursuit With Promotional Stakes

Beyond his pursuit of the 76.2-kilogram WBC title, for which the winner’s belt contains 800 grams of gold, Álvarez is financially tied to the broader promotion of the card, earning a share of the revenue from nine other Mexican fighters appearing on the undercard. “I am excited and looking forward to fighting on Saturday so I can be world champion again,” Álvarez stated from Riyadh. Al-Sheikh praised the champion, describing him as a business partner who fears nothing. In times of war that has now reached the centers of Saudi Arabia, the life and limb of participants are endangered if the Houthi want it.