Canelo Alvarez, a kingdom under attack and the price of boxing's biggest payday

Key Points:

• Saul "Canelo" Alvarez’s WBC super middleweight title fight against Christian Mbilli in Riyadh is proceeding despite ongoing missile and drone attacks in Saudi Arabia, highlighting his dominance and the sport's reliance on him.
• The U.S. State Department has expressed concern over the security situation in Saudi Arabia, ordering non-emergency personnel to leave, and several major sporting events have been canceled, but Canelo’s fight remains scheduled.
• Canelo, 36, has not fought since losing to Terence Crawford 13 months ago and aims to fight quickly again, with plans for two more fights in Riyadh before potentially returning closer to home to solidify his legacy.
• Though immensely popular internationally, especially in the U.S., Canelo’s popularity in Mexico is mixed, with some fans seeing him as a "sellout" for not holding more big fights in his home country; a major fight in Mexico City could help restore his standing there.
• Experts and insiders view Canelo as a rare, special fighter who has brought significant attention and large audiences to boxing, and while his departure will be deeply felt, there is hope for new stars to emerge and fill the void he leaves.