Canelo Alvarez is working alongside Oleksandr Usyk’s conditioning team ahead of his October 31 bout against Christian Mbilli in Riyadh. The meeting will thoroughly test his gas tank across twelve rounds.
Base camp is Gandia, Spain, where Canelo brought in outside fitness specialists while Eddy Reynoso directs the boxing work. Against Mbilli, the payoff must show when fatigue sets in, especially since the younger contender never stops pressing forward.
“In strength and conditioning, I am learning new things,” Canelo told The Ring. “I appreciate them because they put all of their energy into me and are doing everything based on what [my head coach] Eddy Reynoso needs for boxing.”
Mbilli’s relentless tempo explains the sudden shift in preparation. Canelo punishes opponents who march directly into his range, yet he needs steady volume to win rounds. Landing occasional sharp counters leaves far too much clock open for an aggressive challenger throwing nonstop leather.
The main question is whether Canelo can sustain his offense once the fight pushes past the midway mark. Now 36, Canelo returns following his defeat against Terence Crawford and subsequent surgery on his left elbow, with over a year of inactivity behind him. He expects peak execution from a heavily taxed body.
A fresh training philosophy provides something new, yet genuine output down the stretch remains unproven. Cardiovascular endurance does not magically appear in the twilight of a twenty-year career. You cannot rebuild an engine with that much mileage, especially after serious elbow surgery and more than a year out of the ring.
Usyk’s training methods work for Usyk because he has spent a lifetime developing an engine built for movement, bounce, and non-stop output. Transplanting those drills onto a flat-footed counterpuncher who relies on heavy torso rotations and planted feet makes zero sense mechanically.
Mbilli is a nightmare style for an aging fighter who needs scheduled rest breaks. He throws upwards of 80 punches a round, does not care about taking shots to give three back, and smothers distance
The mental comfort of working with Usyk’s crew might give him a temporary psychological lift in camp, but once round seven arrives, and Mbilli is still in his chest, those new drills will not buy him the oxygen his legs and lungs can no longer produce.
Training in Spain softens the time shift into Saudi Arabia. Canelo described feeling “really weird” during his early morning bout with William Scull and stated he has requested that Turki Alalshikh schedule a ring walk no later than midnight or 1 a.m.
Better timing can sharpen his entrance. Once the bell rings, though, Mbilli brings intense pressure that travel logistics cannot solve. Canelo needs the work with Usyk’s camp to translate into steady output when fatigue threatens to stall him.