May 04, (THEWILL) – Mexican boxing champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez defeated Cuban fighter William Scull by unanimous decision on Sunday in Riyadh, unifying the super middleweight world titles. The 34-year-old Alvarez, now holding a professional record of 63-2-2 with 39 knockouts, dominated the previously unbeaten IBF champion Scull during his first fight outside North America.
Throughout the contest, Scull attempted to utilise his height and reach advantages by maintaining distance, but Alvarez effectively cut off the ring and landed significant body shots. Following the victory, Alvarez acknowledged his opponent’s movement in the post-fight interview, stating: “He moved even more than I thought. But, it’s OK, we win.”
The bout, which took place early Sunday morning to accommodate prime-time television audiences in North America, continued Alvarez’s tradition of fighting during Mexico’s Cinco de Mayo festival weekend. This match came after Alvarez was stripped of his IBF belt when opting to fight Edgar Berlanga rather than mandatory challenger Scull last year.
In dramatic fashion following the victory, Terence Crawford entered the ring where both fighters agreed to meet for a highly anticipated showdown in Las Vegas on September 12. The undercard featured Jaime Munguia avenging his previous knockout loss to Bruno Surace with a unanimous decision victory after controlling much of their rematch.
The event is part of Saudi Arabia’s significant investment in international sporting competitions, with Alvarez having signed a four-fight deal with the kingdom’s Riyadh Seasons promotion in February. The boxing spectacle joins Formula One, LIV Golf, and professional football among the sports receiving substantial Saudi funding ahead of the country hosting the 2034 Football World Cup.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
