03-05-2025
Everything you need to know about Canelo Álvarez vs. William Scull in Riyadh
The eyes of the boxing world will return to Riyadh again on Saturday as Saudi Arabia's capital city hosts another historic night for the sport, with Mexican superstar Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez making his first appearance outside of the Americas.
Canelo will face Cuban-born IBF champion William Scull in a blockbuster title unification bout at the ANB Arena; with all four major super middleweight titles on the line, the bout will crown an undisputed champion in the 168-pound division.
For Canelo, this is an opportunity to reclaim supremacy after vacating the IBF belt last year. For Scull, it is a career-defining moment - a chance to defeat one of boxing's all-time greats and stake his claim as a global star. Here, Al Arabiya English brings you everything you need to know about Alvarez vs Scull in Riyadh.
Why is the fight important?
This is not just another Canelo title defense - it's a unification fight that could reshape the super middleweight division. Canelo, already the holder of the WBA, WBC and WBO titles, is seeking to regain the IBF belt and become undisputed champion for the second time in his career.
At 34, the Guadalajara-born fighter remains one of the sport's most marketable and accomplished names, having won titles in four divisions and beaten the likes of Gennady Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev and Miguel Cotto.
Victory on Saturday could open the door to a mega-fight with Terence Crawford later this year - a $150 million showdown that is being talked about in the same breath as Mayweather vs Pacquiao in terms of generational significance. But first, Canelo must get past a hungry and unbeaten challenger in Scull.
For Scull, this is a leap into the limelight. The Cuban-born fighter may lack name recognition outside boxing circles, but he brings a perfect 23-0 record. With speed, durability and sharp technical skill honed in the German system, Scull believes he has what it takes to shock the world.
Who are the fighters?
At 34 years old, Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez has been one of boxing's biggest stars over the past decade. Having turned pro at just 15, Canelo boasts a remarkable 66-fight career, with a record of 62-2-2 (39 KOs). His only defeats came against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013 and Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight in 2022. Known for his sharp counter-punching, slick head movement and body work, he remains a dominant force even after 60+ pro bouts. This will be Canelo's first fight in Saudi Arabia and the latest chapter in an already legendary career.
Scull is thus far unbeaten in his career, with nine of his 23 wins coming by knockout. He has made a name for himself with solid fundamentals and a composed fighting style and after winning the IBF title by defeating Vladimir Shishkin, now finds himself on boxing's biggest stage. While he may not yet be a household name, he is taller than Canelo, with a longer reach and a high-volume approach that could trouble the Mexican over 12 rounds.
When and where is it happening?
Hosted at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, the Alvarez vs Scull fight night takes place on Saturday, May 3, with the ring walks for the main event expected around 3am local time. The bout is part of Riyadh Season, an initiative that has brought some of the biggest names in sport to the Kingdom, including Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk - and now Canelo Álvarez.
What have the fighters said?
'He says he's going to eat me but the only thing he's going to eat is this,' Canelo said with a raised fist at a media appearance at BLVD City on Thursday.
'I hope he goes for it but I don't think he will. Everybody talks, but when they step in the ring they feel something different. He's going to feel something different for sure. This is nothing new for me, but for him he will feel something different.'
Canelo added that the prospect of becoming a two-time unified super middleweight champion of the world is a significant motivation for him, saying: 'That really means a lot because it is a piece of history for my career and that's what I want. That sort of thing motivates me, so that's why it means a lot. It has always been one of my dreams to fight in another country and now I'm here. I'm ready for Saturday.'
Scull, meanwhile, insisted that he has a clear gameplan to take down Canelo and record the most famous victory of his career.
The Cuban said: 'We will have to take it round by round. I've had great preparation and I'm a boxer who can manage all distances in the ring. We will have to see how that plan develops but we won't go crazy in the fight. We won't reveal the fight plan now and put food on the table for our opponents. I've always faced different cultures and faced people who have underestimated me. I don't really care what people say, all I know is I'm going into the fight to show that, yes, you can.'
Who else is fighting on the card?
As with many Riyadh-hosted boxing events, the undercard is stacked with international names and rising stars.
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba (Heavyweight) sees two heavyweight power-punchers collide in a potential show-stealer. Bakole (21-2), the Congolese fighter who famously beat Tony Yoka, faces Nigerian giant Ajagba (20-1). Both are known for knockout power, and this fight could have world title implications depending on the outcome.
Jaime Munguia vs Bruno Surace (Super Middleweight) is a rematch between former WBO light middleweight world champion Munguia (44-2) and Surace (26-0-2). Munguia, still only 28, has lost two of his past three fights - going down to Canelo last May before suffering a shock defeat at the hands of Surace in December. That was the biggest win of Surace's undefeated career in his first fight outside France, with Munguia now looking to avenge that KO.
Badou Jack vs Norair Mikaeljan (Cruiserweight) offers Saudi fans the chance to see veteran Swedish-Gambian fighter Badou Jack, now 41, making his third appearance in the Kingdom. Jack (28-3-3) beat Richard Rivera in Jeddah and then Ilunga Makabu in Diriyah in his last fight, which was more than two years ago. Jack has been tempted back into the ring to face Armenian Mikaeljan (27-0), a slick mover with a solid jab. Jack has hinted at retirement, but a win here could further extend his career.
Marco Verde vs Michel Polina (Light Middleweight) is the long-awaited professional debut of Mexican Olympian Verde. The silver medalist from the 2024 Paris Games - whose father also represented Mexico at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona - is tipped as the next big thing in Mexican boxing. He'll face Ecuador's Michel Polina (4-5-3), a tricky southpaw who will be aiming to upset Verde's big night.
Brayan Leon vs Aaron Guerrero (Middleweight) gives American prospect Leon (6-0) the chance to extend his undefeated record against California's Guerrero (11-3-1). Both fighters are seen as solid domestic talents looking for a breakthrough moment on a global stage.
