In a highly anticipated clash, Canelo Alvarez faced off against William Scull for the super middleweight title on Saturday, a match that many considered a mere formality. The bout unfolded just as expected, with Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) decisively defeating Scull (23-1, 9 KOs) by decision, thus becoming the undisputed 168-pound champion for the second time in his illustrious career. The fight took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking a significant moment in Alvarez's journey as he regained the IBF title that he had lost the previous year after opting not to face Scull.
With this victory, Alvarez has set the stage for a highly anticipated matchup against Terence Crawford on September 12 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Crawford was present at the fight, seizing the opportunity to enter the ring post-fight for a face-off with Alvarez, further igniting the excitement surrounding their upcoming bout. While the outcome of the Alvarez-Scull fight was predictable, it required a grueling 12 rounds to confirm.
Throughout the championship match, Scull, a 32-year-old from Cuba, primarily danced around the perimeter of the ring, delivering weak jabs with minimal impact. Alvarez, on the other hand, relentlessly pursued Scull from the opening bell, though he chose not to unleash his full offensive arsenal. This tactical approach made it an easy fight to score in Alvarez's favor but a challenging one for fans to watch. Ultimately, the judges scored the fight 119-109, 116-112, and 115-113 in favor of Alvarez.
Alvarez expressed his dissatisfaction with the style of opponent he faced, stating, "I don't like to fight those kinds of guys. They came to just survive to the final round. That's why I don't like to fight them." He assured fans that the upcoming fight against Crawford would be anything but boring, stating, "I hate that kind of fight." Alvarez acknowledged Scull's movement during the match but remained focused on the victory, saying, "But it's OK. We won. We're here."
Despite the slow pace of the match, with both fighters receiving warnings for inactivity, the bout became historically significant. According to CompuBox, the two combined for only 445 punches thrown, marking the fewest number of combined punches in a 12-round fight in the organization's 40-year history. Each fighter averaged a staggering low of just five punches landed per round. Nevertheless, Alvarez's offensive strategy was evident as he effectively targeted Scull's body with powerful shots.
This victory extends Alvarez's winning streak to six consecutive fights, all of which have gone the distance. Notably, he has not achieved a knockout since his 11th-round finish against Caleb Plant in November 2021. On the other hand, Scull, who entered the match as the IBF champion, faced the first defeat of his professional career. As the boxing world looks forward to Alvarez's next challenge against Crawford, fans can expect an electrifying bout that promises to deliver the action that was missing in his recent fight.
