In the bustling capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Canelo Alvarez has once again emerged as an undisputed super middleweight champion after securing a decisive victory against William Scull. The battle, which unfolded in the early hours of Sunday local time, ended with the judges favoring Alvarez with scores of 115-113, 116-112, and 119-109. This triumph adds to Alvarez’s impressive record of 63 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws, with 39 of those victories coming by way of knockout. Alvarez remains undefeated in the super middleweight category across ten matches.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as Turki Alalshikh, the head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, quickly orchestrated the next big spectacle. He invited four-division champion Terence Crawford into the ring post-victory to square off against Alvarez in a symbolic face-off ahead of their anticipated September showdown. Strapped with championship belts, Alvarez stood face-to-face with Crawford in front of an eager audience. “Now we want to do the face-off for the fight of the century,” Alalshikh announced, declaring the meeting between these legendary boxers as a monumental event for their era.
Alvarez, renowned as a world champion across four weight classes, held the WBA, WBC, and WBO titles going into his match against Scull. Meanwhile, Crawford, a 37-year-old dynamo with an undefeated record of 41 victories, boasts titles from lightweight to light middleweight divisions. The upcoming match will see Crawford stepping up a division to challenge the formidable Alvarez.
Previously, Alvarez lost the IBF title in July after choosing not to face mandatory challenger Scull. He acquired the title in November 2021 by defeating Caleb Plant. However, the bout with Scull did not deliver the electrifying performance many anticipated. Scull, a native of Cuba with a spotless 23-fight record, employed a defensive strategy, engaging in constant movement and evasive tactics. Alvarez admitted to disliking this style, which proved frustrating to counter.
Fighting outside the U.S. or Mexico for the first time, Alvarez had to acclimate to significant adjustments, not least of which was the different time zone. The match was conducted amidst the early morning in Riyadh, carefully timed to capture the prime-time audience on the U.S. West Coast. Early rounds were cautious, with both athletes gauging each other’s range. Scull threw more but Alvarez remained calm, concentrating on body shots and ultimately landing a pivotal power hit more often than his opponent.
Alvarez expressed satisfaction with the outcome, saying, “It’s OK, we won. We’re here with the title as the champion.” Despite the lukewarm contest and timing challenges, he felt prepared and made no excuses, emphasizing his professionalism and readiness for the anticipated encounter with Crawford. “I feel great. Crawford is one of the best out there, and you know, I like to share the ring with that kind of fighter. It’s my pleasure,” Alvarez remarked, eagerly anticipating their face-off.
Crawford, present in the audience, expressed his enthusiasm, noting, “I’m feeling great. I’m feeling blessed. Things happen for a reason, and there’s a reason why I’m here.” He looks forward to demonstrating his prowess in their scheduled bout, declaring that in September, he aims to showcase true greatness to the world.