Lindolfo Delgado will not face any penalties for choosing not to travel to Saudi Arabia for his scheduled IBF super lightweight title bout against Arthur Biyarslanov.
The IBF decided not to strip Delgado of his top-ranked status. Instead, on Tuesday, the organization mandated that Delgado face Biyarslanov for the vacant title. Both camps have until November 23 to reach an agreement; otherwise, a purse bid will be initiated.
Originally, Delgado and Biyarslanov were set to fight on the undercard of the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli event this past Saturday in Riyadh. However, it was revealed during fight week that Delgado would not be making the trip.
Delgado’s trainer, Robert Garcia, expressed safety concerns for their team given the ongoing attacks by the militant group Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis. Speaking to Boxing Scene, Garcia explained, “I got a call from an attorney already in the country telling me we receive at least two missile alerts daily. That’s a compelling reason to question the risk of traveling and driving hours to the fight location under those conditions.”
Garcia also pointed out that the team received no travel details until just a week before the event, highlighting issues like adjusting to time differences and the complicated travel route to Saudi Arabia. Fighters did not fly directly into Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport but landed elsewhere and then undertook a roughly five-hour journey by road. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman noted that his trip from Mexico to Riyadh lasted over 35 hours.
Despite the concerns, the event proceeded as planned last Saturday, with Alvarez defeating Mbilli to claim the WBC title. Although no injuries occurred, a warning about potential air threats was issued late in the week after residents reported hearing explosions in Riyadh.
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Fan Take: This development underscores the increasing importance of fighter safety and logistical transparency in international boxing events. For fans, Delgado’s decision highlights the potential risks fighters face when fighting abroad and could push promoters to prioritize secure, well-organized venues to protect the sport’s integrity and athletes’ wellbeing.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
