Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—On May 3, 2025, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez reclaimed his spot as the undisputed super middleweight king, grinding out a unanimous decision over William Scull in a fight that had all the spark of a damp fuse. The ANB Arena crowd watched Alvarez chase the elusive Cuban for 12 rounds, landing enough punches to secure scorecards of 115-113, 116-112, and a generous 119-109. But the real buzz came post-fight: a September 12 showdown with Terence Crawford is locked in, promising a Vegas spectacle that could redefine both men’s legacies.
This wasn’t Canelo’s finest hour. The Mexican star, now 63-2-2 with 39 knockouts, stalked Scull relentlessly, hammering body shots and flicking out left hooks. Scull, a 23-1 fighter with just nine stoppages, danced and darted, his feet more active than his fists. The stats told a grim story: the pair threw a combined 445 punches, the lowest in a 12-round fight since CompuBox started tracking four decades ago. Scull’s best moment—a sharp uppercut in the fifth—barely dented Alvarez’s march. Canelo, methodical but flat, never found the gear to ignite the bout.
The Riyadh ring wasn’t just a battleground; it was a stage for what’s next. Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi powerbroker behind the event, climbed through the ropes afterward to confirm Alvarez-Crawford at Allegiant Stadium. Crawford, the pound-for-pound wizard fresh off conquering super welterweight, will leap to 168 pounds for the chance to dethrone Canelo. It’s the biggest fight boxing can muster right now, dwarfing Alvarez’s last real test—a 2022 loss to Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight.
Scull, the former IBF mandatory challenger, earned his shot after Alvarez was stripped of the belt for facing Edgar Berlanga last year. The Cuban kept his distance, popping jabs and occasional rights, but couldn’t disrupt Canelo’s rhythm. Alvarez, holding the WBA, WBC, and WBO straps, added the IBF to his collection, becoming a two-time undisputed champ at super middleweight.
The fight’s lack of fireworks didn’t dim the stakes. Alvarez, at 34, is chasing history. Crawford, unbeaten and surgical, looms as his toughest foe since Bivol. September’s clash will see Canelo defend his four belts against a smaller, savvier opponent who’s never tasted defeat. The boxing world is already counting down.
Alvarez landed 152 punches, Scull 293. The fight went the full 12 rounds. Crawford’s next fight is set for September 12, 2025, in Las Vegas.