Canelo Álvarez Moves Training Camp to Spain Before Christian Mbilli Fight
Canelo Álvarez is preparing in Spain for his next bout against Christian Mbilli. After an uncomfortable experience in Saudi Arabia against William Scull, he decided to arrive much earlier to adapt to the time change. He has spent more than a month training at Oleksandr Usyk's gym, aiming to avoid the adjustment problems he faced before.
Canelo Álvarez has shifted his camp to Spain, spending over a month at Oleksandr Usyk’s gym ahead of facing Christian Mbilli. The move follows his May 2025 unanimous-decision win over William Scull in Riyadh, a bout he won but found physically uncomfortable, partly because he had too little time to adjust to the time change.
He believes his body needs roughly three weeks to adapt fully. His current work adds drills for reflexes, reactions, memory and adaptability. He has also said his preparation for Terence Crawford, a September 2025 loss, included five weeks when his focus was not complete.
Canelo’s extended Spanish camp may influence how combat athletes approach time-zone adaptation and mental training, potentially affecting fighters, coaches, and fans who follow his preparation. If he performs better against Mbilli, his methods could gain credibility, encouraging more boxers to relocate early for camps. Spanish gyms and local boxing communities could see modest attention. Conversely, a poor result may temper enthusiasm for such changes. The story mainly affects sports audiences and training professionals, not broader policy.