RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Moments after Canelo Alvarez fended off William Scull to turn into the undisputed tremendous middleweight champion once more, he was going through off in opposition to Terence Crawford in the identical ring in Riyadh to advertise a showdown in September.
Alvarez grew to become an undisputed champion within the division for the second time when the judges scored his ho-hum bout early Sunday Saudi native time in opposition to Scull 115-113, 116-112, 119-109. The 34-year-old Mexican boxer improved to 63-2-2, with 39 knockouts, and is unbeaten in 10 fights within the tremendous middleweight class.
The choice had barely been introduced earlier than Turki Alalshikh, head of the Normal Leisure Authority of Saudi Arabia, stepped into the ring and ordered it cleared out in order that he may deliver four-division champion Crawford out of the group to face Alvarez, who was sporting one belt round his waist, one other over his shoulder and holding one in every arm.
“Now we want to do the face off for the fight of the century,” Alalshikh informed the group, “between the two great fighters in our generation.”
Alvarez is a four-weight world champion and entered the battle in opposition to Scull with the WBA, WBC and WBO titles at 168 kilos. The 37-year-old Crawford (41-0) has gained titles in 4 divisions from light-weight to gentle middleweight.
Alvarez was stripped of the IBF belt final July when he declined to make a compulsory protection in opposition to Scull. He’d owned that title since November 2021 when he defeated Caleb Plant.
The battle in opposition to Scull didn’t reside as much as the hype.
The Cuba-born Scull entered unbeaten in 23 skilled fights. He continually moved round, dodging, shuffling and irritating Alvarez, who later mentioned he hated preventing that type of boxer.
Alvarez was preventing outdoors the U.S. or Mexico for the primary time and needed to make loads of changes, together with to the time zone.
The fighters walked into the ring and the anthems began round 6:20 a.m. native time (11:20 p.m. ET Saturday) for the principle bout in Riyadh, timed so it was in prime time on the U.S. West Coast.
The opening rounds have been gradual with each boxers feeling for vary and the depth steadily lifted with Scull throwing many extra punches however not touchdown sufficient.
Alvarez, against this, stayed affected person and was touchdown physique photographs. Ultimately, Alvarez threw virtually half as many punches as Scull (152-293) however landed yet another (56-55), predominantly energy photographs to the physique.
“It’s OK, we won. We’re here with the title as the champion,” Alvarez mentioned, including that neither the timing of the bout nor the standard of the competition was an issue as a result of he’d loads of time to arrange. “I’m a champion. I’m a professional, so that’s all, no excuse or anything.”
As for the Sept. 12 showdown in opposition to Crawford, who will likely be stepping up a weight to tackle Alvarez?
“I feel great. Crawford is one of the best out there and, you know, I like to share the ring with that kind of fighter,” he mentioned. “It’s my pleasure.”
Crawford was within the crowd watching within the Saudi capital.
“I’m feeling great. I’m feeling blessed. Things happen for a reason, and there’s a reason why I’m here,” he mentioned. “In September I’m showing the world what greatness look like.”
