Alvarez Triumphs Over Scull, Sets Sights on Crawford Showdown
Canelo Alvarez’s super middleweight title bout against William Scull seemed like a mere formality before the Saturday event, and indeed, that’s how it transpired.
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) reclaimed his status as the undisputed 168-pound champion for the second time, overcoming Scull (23-1, 9 KOs) by decision. This victory also saw Alvarez reclaim the IBF title he lost the previous year due to declining a match with Scull.
Alvarez’s triumph has paved the way for an eagerly awaited showdown with Terence Crawford on September 12 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Crawford, present at the event, quickly joined Alvarez in the ring for an intense faceoff post-victory.
CompuBox Punch Stats
| Punches | Alvarez | Scull |
|---|---|---|
| Total landed | 56 | 55 |
| Total thrown | 152 | 293 |
| Percent | 36.8% | 18.8% |
| Jabs landed | 8 | 27 |
| Jabs thrown | 63 | 220 |
| Percent | 12.7% | 12.3% |
| Power landed | 48 | 28 |
| Power thrown | 89 | 73 |
| Percent | 53.9% | 38.4% |
While the outcome mirrored boxing’s expectations and desires, it officially confirmed it through a grueling 12-round ordeal. Scull, a 32-year-old from Cuba, spent most of the fight retreating around the ring, throwing ineffective jabs that lacked conviction. Alvarez pursued tirelessly but stuck to measured aggression throughout.
This encounter easily leaned in Alvarez’s favor for scoring but proved dull for spectators. Judges scored it 119-109, 116-112, and 115-113 for Alvarez.
“I dislike fighting those kinds of opponents,” Alvarez expressed. “They just strive to last until the final bell. That’s why I avoid them. Against Crawford, it won’t be like this. I despise these bouts. He was more elusive than we anticipated. Still, it’s fine. We came out victorious.”
Following Alvarez’s lackluster win over William Scull, the anticipated super fight with Terence Crawford on September 12 was announced.
Conversely, Alvarez described facing an action-oriented opponent like Crawford as a “pleasure.”
“I’m feeling great. Crawford is among the top fighters, and I’m eager to share the ring with him,” Alvarez remarked. “It’s a thrill for me.”
Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) refrained from critiquing Alvarez’s performance, simply stating, “He accomplished what was needed given his opponent.”
Despite warnings for inactivity, the match went down in history as exceptionally sluggish. Alvarez and Scull combined threw 445 punches, marking the fewest in a 12-round fight in CompuBox’s 40-year history. On average, they landed a mere five punches per round.
Nonetheless, Alvarez decisively outperformed Scull, targeting him with forceful body shots. This victory extends his streak to six wins, all decisions, since his last knockout in the 11th round against Caleb Plant in November 2021. Scull, initially the IBF champion, experienced the first loss of his career.