Canelo Álvarez dominates, secures September 12 showdown with Crawford
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Canelo Alvarez’s super middleweight title bout against William Scull felt like a formality heading into Saturday — and that’s exactly how it played out.
Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) reclaimed the undisputed 168-pound championship with a unanimous decision win over Scull (23-1, 9 KOs) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, regaining the IBF title stripped from him last year after declining to face Scull.
The victory sets the stage for a blockbuster showdown against Terence Crawford on Sept. 12 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Crawford, who was ringside, stepped into the ring post-fight for a faceoff with Alvarez.
Though the result aligned with expectations, the 12-round bout was far from entertaining. Scull, a 32-year-old Cuban, circled the ring and offered little offense, while Alvarez methodically pursued him without taking unnecessary risks. Judges scored the fight 119-109, 116-112, and 115-113 in Alvarez’s favor.
“I don’t like fighting guys like that,” Alvarez said. “They just come to survive. But we won, and we’re here. It won’t be that kind of fight against Crawford — it’ll be a pleasure to face someone like him.”
Punch stats reflected the slow pace. According to CompuBox, the two combined for just 445 punches — the fewest ever recorded in a 12-round fight in CompuBox’s 40-year history. Alvarez landed 56 punches to Scull’s 55, with Alvarez’s superior body work making the difference.
The win marks Alvarez’s sixth straight victory, all by decision, and his first knockout drought since 2021. Scull, making his first IBF title defense, suffered his first career defeat.
Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) kept his assessment brief: “He did what he had to do to get the job done.”
In the co-main event, Badou Jack (29-3-3, 17 KOs) defended his WBC cruiserweight title with a majority decision over Norair Mikaeljan (27-3, 12 KOs). Jack returned after a two-year layoff, while Mikaeljan, the WBC champion in recess, saw his four-fight win streak snapped.
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