​Some of the biggest boxing matches in recent years have taken place in Saudi Arabia. In 2023 and 2024, the kingdom firmly established itself as the home of the sport’s major events by staging two Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk bouts and playing host to Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 1 and 2, among other big fights.Although the country has been quieter in hosting boxing events in 2026, the sport’s biggest star, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, is set to return to Riyadh on Oct. 31 against Christian Mbilli for the WBC super middleweight title — and it’s not outside of the realm of possibility that missiles may be raining down just a few miles away during the event.Ansar Allah, a militant organization otherwise known as the Houthis, has been bombing airports, oil fields and the East-West pipeline in Riyadh in recent weeks. The attacks have significantly disrupted life and business in Saudi Arabia. On Wednesday, it was announced that the country’s annual “Six Kings Slam” tennis tournament will be postponed two months, from late October to the end of December, due to “logistical reasons.”Many believe athletes are risking their safety by competing in Riyadh as the attacks continue. One thing that still hasn’t been pushed back is the Alvarez vs. Mbilli bout on Oct. 31. Industry insiders have openly speculated that if the kingdom were to call off the bout, they would be on the hook for Alvarez’s $50 million-plus purse. The kingdom isn’t as liquid with cash at the moment due to the political situation, so they don’t want to be the ones to postpone the bout, leaving the sides in a standoff to see who folds first. WBC super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora joined Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show” Wednesday to give his thoughts on the situation and boxers fighting in Saudi Arabia in general.”Yeah, there’s a reason why I haven’t fought in Saudi Arabia,” Fundora said ahead of his Saturday’s title defense against Ermal Hadribeaj. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable, me being American and everything like that. “I mean, all these other fighters who are doing it, I’m happy for them to take the opportunity. But for me, it wouldn’t be a realistic opportunity.”Fundora told Uncrowned that he has been offered fights in Saudi Arabia, but he wouldn’t be comfortable taking them even if they came with an increased purse.”Absolutely [they offered me a fight in Saudi Arabia]. I didn’t say no,” Fundora insisted. “It’s just, for me, it’s not comfortable with my mother being a veteran and all the politics in that. It’s bigger than boxing. It’s way bigger than boxing.”Fundora went on to say that he would not fight pound-for-pound star Jaron “Boots” Ennis in a major fight in Saudi Arabia if it were offered.