Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Saul “Canelo” Alvarez reclaimed the undisputed super middleweight crown on May 4, 2025, grinding out a unanimous decision over Cuba’s William Scull in a bout that left fans yawning and critics sharpening their pens. The Mexican star, now 61-2-2, kept his WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF belts in a 12-round slog that lacked the fireworks of his usual performances. But the real story isn’t the win—it’s what’s next. Alvarez is set to collide with welterweight king Terence Crawford in a blockbuster super-fight slated for September, a clash already generating more buzz than Saturday’s snoozer.
The Scull fight, held under the blazing lights of a Saudi arena, was no thriller. Alvarez, 34, leaned on his trademark precision and ring smarts, landing crisp jabs and body shots while Scull, a 32-year-old mandatory challenger, struggled to match his pace. The Cuban, now 22-1, showed grit but lacked the power to trouble the champ. Judges scored it wide—118-110, 117-111, 116-112—handing Alvarez a victory that felt more like a formality than a triumph. The crowd, expecting a knockout, got a chess match instead.
Talk of the Crawford showdown overshadowed the night. On April 23, the WBC announced Alvarez would defend his titles against Scull, but whispers of a September mega-fight with Crawford, the 37-year-old pound-for-pound phenom, had already surfaced. Crawford, 40-0, has dominated welterweight and is chasing history by jumping weight classes to challenge for super middleweight gold. The fight, teased since January 30 by boxing insiders, promises to be a generational showdown, pitting Alvarez’s bruising style against Crawford’s surgical precision.
Saturday’s bout was a stepping stone, nothing more. Alvarez controlled the ring, slipping Scull’s punches and countering with heavy hands, but never pushed for the stoppage. Scull, fighting out of Germany, landed a few clean shots in the middle rounds, only to see Alvarez brush them off and march forward. By the final bell, the result was clear, even if the action wasn’t. The win solidified Alvarez’s grip on the 168-pound division, but it’s the Crawford clash that has the boxing world buzzing.
Negotiations for the September fight are underway, with Saudi Arabia likely to host again, bankrolled by its deep-pocketed Riyadh Season events. No contracts are signed, but both camps have signaled intent. Alvarez, who’s fought everyone from Floyd Mayweather to Gennady Golovkin, wants to cement his legacy. Crawford, a three-division champ, aims to pull off a feat few have dared—leapfrogging weight classes to dethrone an undisputed king.
The Scull fight won’t be remembered for its drama. It was a job done, a hurdle cleared. Alvarez walked away with his belts, his record intact, and his sights set on a Nebraska-born destroyer who’s never lost a round, let alone a fight. September can’t come soon enough.