Canelo Alvarez, Christian Mbilli enroll in testing as Halloween bout confirmed

Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli are now officially enrolled in  Olympic-style drug testing as their Halloween super-middleweight showdown planned for Saudi Arabia nears.

Two officials familiar with the fighters’ agreements with the Nevada-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Association confirmed that WBC champion Mbilli, 29-0-1 (24 KOs), and Mexico’s four-division champion Alvare, 63-3-2 (39 KOs), are now under VADA’s more stringent title-fight testing protocol.

Each is signed to the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program.

BoxingScene reported Monday that Saudi Arabia-based event planner Sela had not yet advised VADA to launch its increased testing as it usually does for a championship bout, surprising considering the looming fight date.

Alvarez has repeatedly participated in VADA testing following his 2018 positive for the banned stimulant Clenbuterol left him suspended and caused a delay of his rematch victory later that year over Gennady Golovkin.

Mbilli has never submitted a positive PEDs result.

Saudi Arabia boxing financier Turki Alalshikh confirmed on social media that the October 31 “Mexico vs. The World” card is on in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, an announcement that followed concerns over Iran’s drone attacks on the oil-rich nation and the fact that title-fight participants on the card, featherweight Rafael Espinoza and IBF 140lbs No. 1-ranked fighter Lindolfo Delgado, had not been forwarded contracts from Sela as of Monday.