The world of boxing witnessed an absolute snoozer this past Saturday when Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, the undisputed super middleweight world champion, defeated William Scull in a performance that left fans wondering what could have been. While Canelo claimed victory via unanimous decision (115-113, 116-112, 119-109), the fight itself was far from the explosive bout many anticipated.
Canelo Alvarez: The King, But At What Cost?
With this win, Canelo (63-2-2, 39 KOs) successfully retained his titles and is now poised for what many consider the fight of the year—a September showdown against Terence Crawford. However, Canelo's victory came in the form of a performance that was less than impressive. Scull, who entered the ring as the IBF titlist, seemed far more interested in avoiding conflict than in winning. His constant lateral movement and lackluster output led to one of the most boring 12-round affairs in recent boxing history.
In fact, the fight set a new record for the fewest punches thrown in a 12-round bout according to CompuBox figures—an eye-popping 293 punches by Canelo and just 152 from Scull. Scull’s strategy was clear: move, jab, and hope for the best. His game plan involved surviving the rounds rather than attempting to win, which led Canelo to express his frustration after the fight.
“I hate fighting those kinds of guys. They just come to survive,” Canelo said post-fight. His words echoed the sentiments of fans who were hoping for a more competitive battle. The fight was a stark contrast to what Canelo's fans had expected from the Mexican powerhouse, who is known for his aggressive style and explosive knockout power.
Looking Ahead: Canelo vs. Crawford—A True Boxing Showcase
While the Scull fight was an unfortunate letdown, all eyes are now on the September 12 showdown between Canelo and Terence Crawford. This is a clash of two boxing titans, and for good reason. Crawford, one of the sport's pound-for-pound elites, presents a whole different challenge for Canelo. Unlike Scull, Crawford won’t be running. He’s known for his precision, technique, and ability to adapt to any opponent.
Canelo's victory over Scull did nothing to showcase the sharpness and ferocity needed to compete with someone like Crawford. While Canelo's body work and power punches were enough to defeat Scull, he will need to up his game significantly when faced with Crawford’s elite level of boxing IQ and versatility.
The upcoming fight will test whether Canelo, now 33 years old, can keep up with a fighter who is widely regarded as one of the best of this generation. It's the fight boxing fans have been begging for, and it has the potential to be a true legacy-defining moment for both fighters.
Other Notable Fights on the Card:
Though the main event was underwhelming, there were other notable bouts on the undercard. Badou Jack retained his WBC cruiserweight title in a controversial majority decision win over Noel Mikaelyan. The bout was closely contested, and many felt Mikaelyan deserved the nod, but the judges saw it differently.
Jaime Munguia also found redemption on the card, avenging his only knockout loss with a solid unanimous decision over Bruno Surace. Munguia's victory was a reminder that boxing is a sport of second chances, and he took full advantage of his opportunity to regain confidence and momentum.
In the heavyweight division, Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba fought to a majority decision draw, a result that did little to satisfy either fighter's fans but offered plenty of excitement for those in attendance.
A Historic Year for Canelo—But What’s Next?
This win puts Canelo on a five-fight win streak, following his loss to Dmitry Bivol in May 2022 for the WBA light heavyweight title. Since that defeat, Canelo has shown resilience, taking on tough opponents, but his performance against Scull has raised questions about whether he’s still at the peak of his powers.
Canelo has gone three and a half years without a knockout, and fans are wondering if his age and wear-and-tear from an illustrious career are starting to show. A win over Crawford would certainly silence any doubters, but this fight is one of the most unpredictable of the year.
Conclusion:
Canelo Alvarez's latest victory may not have been the spectacle fans were hoping for, but it set the stage for what promises to be one of the most highly anticipated fights in boxing history. The Canelo vs. Crawford showdown in September will undoubtedly answer many questions and potentially establish the winner as the pound-for-pound king.
But in the meantime, Canelo will have to shake off the cobwebs from his unimpressive win over Scull. He’s not just fighting for titles—he’s fighting for his legacy.
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