By Ricardo Lezama 
On May 3, 2025, at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, boxing fans anticipated a thrilling clash between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and William Scull for the undisputed super middleweight championship. Through the mechanization of the IBF, Scull was made a mandatory for Canelo just as a more lucrative (and more fan friendly) fight was conducted by the Mexican superstar. Ultimately, this cost Canelo, the IBF piece of his undisputed position within the super middleweight division. Thus, in a sense, the fight was made relevant by out of touch ranking decisions from the IBF when they could’ve simply waited and had the fight between Canelo and Crawford occur now.
In hindsight, Canelo making Scull wait was the best move. The bout turned out to be a lackluster affair, leaving many disappointed. Julio Cesar Chavez, the Mexican legend, did not mince words and called the bout a scandal.
A Tactical Stalemate
From the opening bell, the fight was characterized by caution rather than aggression. Scull, a Cuban boxer, known for his technical prowess, adopted a purely defensive strategy, focusing on movement and counterpunching. While this approach showcased some discipline, it resulted in minimal engagement, with Scull often circling the ring and avoiding prolonged exchanges. There were some futile attempts in social media to characterize the bout as evidence of Canelo’s inability to cut off the ring, but he did connect a significant number of power shots on a fleet footed Scull.
To some, Alvarez, attempting to press the action, found it challenging overall to land significant blows against Scull’s survival mode style. Despite controlling the center of the ring and targeting the body, Canelo’s efforts were met with some criticism.
Record Low Activity
The bout set an unfortunate record for the fewest combined punches thrown in a 12-round fight tracked by CompuBox in the past 40 years, with only 445 punches thrown between both fighters. This statistic underscores the minimal action and engagement throughout the match. Scull channeled his inner Devin Haney and fought horribly off the back foot, launching shots without conviction.
Judges’ Verdict
After 12 rounds, the judges unanimously awarded the victory to Alvarez with scores of 115-113, 116-112, and 119-109. While Canelo reclaimed the IBF title, unifying it with his WBA, WBC, and WBO belts, the manner of victory did little to excite fans or critics. In such a low output fight, the cards were all over the place and guarantee everyone a lack of satisfaction as is typical in defensive fight.
Post-Fight Reactions
The boxing community expressed widespread disappointment. Fans labeled the fight as “pure trash,” criticizing the lack of action and Scull’s overly cautious approach. Even Alvarez voiced his frustration, stating that Scull’s defensive tactics made the fight boring.
Scull, on the other hand, defended his strategy, asserting that he adhered to his game plan and believed he had control during the fight. He expressed disappointment with the judges’ decision but remained confident in his performance.
Looking Ahead
Ironically, the most exciting moments came from the end of the bout, as Turki Al Sheik came through with a giod Ring magazine belt from London to Canelo’s hands. The belt made its way to the now two time undisputed champion, turning the boxing world’s attention to the more anticipated Canelo Crawford matchup. Alvarez is set to face Terence Crawford on September 12, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This fight promises to deliver the excitement that fans missed in the Alvarez-Scull encounter.