Canelo Alvarez did not hide his displeasure after beating William Scull in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the undisputed super middleweight championship on May 4.
Alvarez spent much of the night stalking Scull, who stayed on the move and turned the 12-round fight into a lackluster affair.
The fighters combined to land about 100 punches. A couple of times, the referee instructed the boxers to engage.
‘That’s why I don’t like to fight those kind of guys,’ Alvarez told DAZN during a post-fight interview. ‘They come to just to survive, to go to the 12th round. And that’s why I don’t like that.’
But with his victory, Canelo secured a fight against Terence Crawford on Sept 12 in Las Vegas.
But that was little consolation as Alvarez defended his WBA, WBC and WBO world titles, and wrested away the IBF world title from the previously unbeaten Scull.
Alvarez, the 34-year-old superstar from Mexico, improved to 63-2-2.
But he failed to get his first knockout since 2021 or stagger Scull, extending a streak without a knockout to seven fights in a row. Instead, he settled for a barrage of body shots and made it through 12 rounds without absorbing any punishing blows.
Scull, the 32-year-old Cuban, fell to 23-1.
Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull, super middleweight: Round-by-round
Round 1: Chants go up immediately. “Canelo! Canelo!’’ No action yet. Canelo Alvarez and William Scull measuring each other. Scull throws a jab, and another. Neither land. Alvarez subtly waling down Scull and throws a hard right that misses the mark. Alvarez still inching forward, walking down Scull, who throws jabs. Scull bouncing on his feet. Throws another jab. Alvarez threw two punches? Not enough to win the round. Scull 10, Alvarez 9.
Round 2: It’s more of the same, with Scull throwing jabs as he circles away from Alvarez. Alvarez kands a hard right to the body. Another body shot lands. Still stalking as Scull bounces away. Scull stands is ground and fires jabs, with one sneaking through. More jabs and a right hat’s blocked. Alvarez patiently stalks. Misses with a right. Scull may have snuck through a right. Alvarez lands a right to the body as the round ends. Scull 19, Alvarez 19.
Round 3: Scull fires a left and right early. Neither get through Alvarez’s high guard. Alvarez lands a left to the body. More stalking. Alvarez deflecting punches with that high guard. Alvarez connects to the body with a left. Up go the chants. “Canelo! Canelo!’’ Scull sticking with the jab. Switches stances and throws a right. Doesn’t get through. Alvarez 29, Scull 28.
Round 4: Scull active early with that jab, which isn’t landing. Alvarez lands a couple of body shots. Alvarez in no hurry here, then lands a body shot. Alvarez looks for a body shot and takes one instead. Alvarez throws a sweeping left that misses. Alvarez 38, Scull 38.
Round 5: Scull again throwing jabs early and Alvarez showing no urgency. Scull bouncing back and force, trying to keep Alvarez from setting up an attack. Unleashes a right that misses. Alvarez throwing no punches. Zzzzzzzz. Alvarez throws two big punches. Finally. Neither connect. Scull so far is an effective moving target. But Alvarez lands a body shot. Scull responds with his own body shot. Alvarez 48, Scull 47.
Round 6: Scull lands a hard right, and Alvarez attacks the body. Alvarez pounds the body again and takes a shot. Again, Alvarez to the body. They exchange crisp jabs. Scull bouncing, bouncing and bouncing some more. Ugh. Alvarez struggling to find a rhythm. Alvarez 58, Scull 56.
Round 7: Alvarez still tiptoeing around as he stalks. He takes two shots. Alvarez unleashes a couple of punches. Hard to know if they landed. Rushes in with a right to the body. Digs in a left to Scull’s body. Scores again with a left to the body. But Scull lands a right. Scull connects with a left. Alvarez looks frustrated. Incredibly to see the seventh round ending and Alvarez throwing so few punches. Alvarez 67, Scull 66.
Round 8: Alvarez unloads early, not direct hits. Scull bounces away. Alvarez lands yet another body shot. Alvarez lands a left uppercut. Drills Scull with another body shot. Strange rhythm here as Alvarez, methodically, continues to stalk Scull. Then jumps out of the way before Alvarez can throw a body punch. Alvarez 77, Scull 75.
Round 9: Referee pulls in both fighters. Tells the fighters there’s too much running around. Alvarez warned after a slightly low blow. Scull still moving. Must have forgot what the ref said. Scull throws a right that’s blocked. Alvarez lands a hard body shot. Alvarez closes with a shot to Scull’s nose. Alvarez 87, Scull 84.
Round 10: Scull still burning calories and frustrating the crowd as he bounces away from Alvarez. Scull landed a right to the head as Alvarez darted in for a body short. Alvarez lands to the body and Scull fires and moves. Alvarez lands a shot to the face but the crowd has grown restless. Alvarez 97, Scull 93.
Round 11: Alvarez still showing no real urgency. Alvarez lands a body shot and Scull looks to the refer as if it’s a low blow. Alvarez delivers another. Scull still bouncing. Alvarez showing frustration. Alvarez 106, Scull 103.
Round 12: Crowd alive, wanting action. Canelo throws a left to the body and Scully leaps away. Can’t leap free from an Alvarez left. Alvarez connected to the body again, and Scull answered with a combination. Alvarez undeterred. Drives a left into Scull’s body. Alvarez sticking with body shots as the final rounds comes to a close. Alvarez 116, Scull 112.
Badou Jack def. Norair Mikaeljan by majority decision
Badou Jack took more punches, but he landed more with authority and won the WBC world cruiserweight championship in the 12-round bout.
Norair Mikaeljan connected with about 30 more punches than Jack did, according to DAZN’s livestream. But Jack punished Mikaeljan with body shots and capitalized with punches when the fighters got tied up.
The judges scored it 114-114, 115-113 and 115-114 for Jack, the Swede who improved to 29-3-3.
Mikaeljan, a 34-year-old native of Armenia, fell to 27-3.
Badou Jack vs. Norair Mikaeljan highlights
Badou Jack vs Norair Mikaeljan, WBC cruiserweight: Round-by-round
Round 1: Fighters settle at the center of the ring and Mikaeljan opens with a left. Men settled as they measure each other. Jack now bouncing off his feet before they settle at the center of the ring again. Mikaeljan now stalking but neither has landed an authoritative blow. Mikaeljan poking away with that jab. Mikaeljan 10, Jack 9.
Round 2: Jack comes out with more energy, but Mikaeljan stands his ground. Jack throwing with more gusto, but has ye to land anything of consequence. Jack finally lands a right. Mikaeljan throws rights that come up short. Jack stays active. Mikaeljan lands a right anda finishes strong. Mikaeljan 20, Jack 18.
Round 3: Mikaeljan scores with the right and stays on the attack, connecting to the body. Jack responds with a right. Mikaeljan answers with a couple of lefts and three rights. Nothing stings Jack. Jack lands an overhand right and moments land connects again. Mikaeljan 29, Jack 28.
Round 4: Mikaeljan scores with his right again. He’s throwing it with confidence. Now digging in to Jack’s body with lefts and rights. Mikaeljan applying pressure. Jack moves forward and Mikaeljan slows him with a couple of shots. Mikaeljan 39, Jack 37.
Round 5: Mikaeljan attacks the body and Jack fires back. But Mikaejlan is showing more energy – and throwing more punches. Jack moving forward but Mikaeljan slows him with a solid left. Jack lands a big right. Mikaeljan 48, Jack 47.
Round 6: Jack clubs Mikaelan with a series of rights, looks in control. Jack tags Mikaeljan with a left and Jack looking younger than his 41 years as he lands another right. Mikaeljan 57, Jack 57.
Round 7: Jack comes out the aggressor. Mikaeljan fighting him off with the left jab. Mikaeljan peppers Jack with lefts, but most are blocked. Jack responds with his right hand and Mikaeljan fights him off. Jack drills Mikaeljan in the gut. They get tied up and Jack sneaks in some punches. Jack 67, Mikaeljan 66.
Round 8: Mikaeljan peppers Jack with jabs and follows with a right. Fires away – not with power but with frequency. Jack delivers some body shots and then a hard right. More peppering from Mikaeljan as Jack chases after his foe. Jack 76, Mikaeljan 76.
Round 9: Jack comes out throwing a stiff right, then attacks the body. Mikaeljan throwing more punches, but Jack throwing with greater force. They get tangled up and Jack slips through a left to the face. Mikaeljan lands a big right. And then another. Mikaeljan 86, Jack 85.
Round 10: Both fighters still look game. Mikaeljan lands a flurry and Jack shakes it off. As in, didn’t hurt a bit. Mikaelan lands a sharp left. Nice exchange of body shots. Another exchange, and Jack lands a hard right. Mikaeljan 95, Jack 95.
Round 11: Jack comes out fast and lands a right to the body. Mikaeljan responds with a flurry and then he backpedals. Takes a hard right. Trading punches with authority as they fall into the clinch. Jack 105, Mikaeljan 104.
Round 12: Mikaeljan opens with a flurry of lefts. Throws a right and Jack was looking for an open without immediate success. Mikaeljan lands again but Jack moving forward as Mikaeljan circles away. Tied up and exchanging body shots. Mikaeljan lands a combination with oomph. He finishes with a flurry to a body and Jack lands a final punch with gusto. Mikaeljan 114, Jack 114.
Jaime Munguia defeats Bruno Surace by unanimous decision
Jaime Munguia avenged a knockout loss to Bruno Surace with a decisive performance in a 12-round super middleweight fight.
Munguia kept the pressure on during the rematch and attacked Surace’s body. Surace spent a good portion of the fight on the ropes and failed to land the right that served him so well in December during their first fight. That one ended with Munguia getting knocked out in the sixth round.
Munguia’s victory Saturday validated his decision to start working with Eddy Reynoso, who trains Canelo Alvarez.
The judges scored it 116-112, 117-111 and 117-112 for Munguia, the 28-year-old from Mexico who improved to 45-2.
Surace, the 26-year-old from France, fell to 26-1-2.
Jaime Munguia vs Bruno Surace highlights
Bruno Surace vs Jaime Munguia, super middleweight: Round-by-round
Round 1: Surace firing jabs and Munguia targeting the body. Surace misses with a big left but scores with a right. Munguia the aggressor. Moves forward and throws a couple of shots. Surace uses his left to set up his right. Neither lands. Surace 10, Munguia 9.
Round 2: Surace looking calm and confident, even with Munguia moving forward. Munguia heating up and lands a right. Now Surace inches forward and throws a nice left. Then connects with a right and backs up Munguia. Munguia digs into Surace with a left. Surace 19, Munguia 19.
Round 3: Munguia comes out strong and attacks Surace’s body. Surace is wearing his trunks high, but it’s not going to protect him from punches like that. More measuring than punching before Munguia closes strong. Munguia 29, Surace 28.
Round 4: Munguia scores early to the body with a left. Surace responds with a crisp jab. Munguia showing more aggression again, but not landing punches with authority. Munguia stalking but he eats a right. Surace throws a big right that doesn’t squeeze through, but he looks steady. Munguia 38, Surace 38.
Round 5: Munguia comes out stalking, gets Surace in a corner but not able to capitalize. Surace throws his trademark right, but it doesn’t land. Munguia throws a big right and grazes the target. Surace fires back with strong punches, but neither land before Munguia connects with two punches to the body. Munguia 48, Surace 47.
Round 6: Munguia out strong and lands a big left. Munguia throws two big rights followed by a left that connects with the body. He’s showing more confidence. Munguia connecting with regularity now. Surace has grown passive. Munguia 58, Surace 56.
Round 7: Munguia still looking in control, but Surace sneaks a right through to Munguia’s body. Munguia steadily moves forward before Surace lands a nice left uppercut. Munguia swinging big. Lands a couple and finishes with a flurry. Munguia 68, Surace 65.
Round 8: Munguia opens by landing a left and continues to stalk Surace. Surace briefly on the attack and then retreats. Munguia throws a couple of crisp shots. Surace backed up in the corner and bounces out. Chants go up: “Mex-ico, Mex-ico!’’ Munguia controls the round. Munguia 78, Surace 74.
Round 9: Surace finally connects with a body shot, but Munguia still moving forward and does some damage in the corner before Surace sneaks away. Back to the corner again and Munguia unloads to the body. Fighters at the center of the ring, action slows. Surace throws the big right, but it misses. He’s looking to counter, but Munguia scores without getting hit. Surace just misses with an uppercut. Munguia 88, Surace 83.
Round 10: Surace fires the right again, and misses again. That’s the difference-making punch if he can land it. He lands a couple of jabs and Munguia still coming forward. Throws a flurry and lands a shot to the body. Surace lands a chopping right, but not the head-snapping right. Munguia digs in with a left hook. Munguia applying pressing and avoids a right from Surace. Munguia 98, Surace 92.
Round 11: Surace moves forward and now throwing punches with some frequency. Munguia looking a tad tentative but he lands a right and goes after the body again. Munguia fires and has Surace backpedaling again. Surace unleashes a right uppercut but it’s way off the mark. Munguia attacks the body again. Then goes after the head. And back to the body. Munguia 108, Surace 101.
Round 12: Surace comes out and throws a clubbing right. Does not hit the target. Munguia going after Surace, who’s loading up for the right. Munguia warned for a blows. But no point deduction. Munguia has Surace on the ropes and his picking his spots. Lands a left. Surace lurches forward with a left. Munguia avoids suffering any serous damage. More strong punches from Munguia on the ropes. Another flurry from Munguia. Munguia 118, Surace 110.
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba, majority draw
Bakole had the power. Ajagba had the plan. They neutralized each other in a 10-round heavyweight bout that ended in a majority draw.
Bakole, a 299-pounder from the Democratic Republic of The Congo, drew blood from Ajagba with a right hand to the nose. But he looked frustrated as Ajagba stayed on the move.
Ajagba, a 31-year-old from Nigeria, landed more punches than Bakole but with less force.
One judge scored it 96-94 for Ajagba and the two others scored it 95-95.
Bakola, coming off a knockout loss to Joseph Parker, is now 21-2-1. Ajagba is 20-1-1.
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba highlights
Martin Bakole vs Efe Ajagba, heavyweight: Round-by-round
Round 1: The 6-foot-6 Efe Ajagba looks almost scrawny at 240 pounds. That’s because his opponent, the 6-6 Martin Bakole, weighs 299 pounds. Pound-for-pound, the biggest fight of the night. Ajagba keeping his distance and throwing jabs. Bakole looming but not throwing any punches of significance. Bakole lands a nice jab, but Ajagba is more active and lands a hard right as the round ends. Ajagba 10, Bakole 9.
Round 2: Ajagba relying on his boxing skills and slowly circling, so far keeping Bakole at bay. Bakole fires a couple of jabs and misses with a hard left. Ajagba managing to lands jabs and keeping a healthy distance from the hard hitting Bakole. Ajagba 20, Bakole 18.
Round 3: Bakole comes out with more aggression and uncorks harder jabs that graze Ajagba. Ajagba answers with a right. Follows that up with a harder right and Bakole moves forward – into yet another right hand. Akole moves in for the potential kill, but Ajagba fires punches and slows Bakole. Bakole finishes fast, but not fast enough. Ajagba 30, Bakole 27.
Round 4: Bakole starting to smother Ajagba and landing big punches. Has Ajagba in a corner before he gets free. Bakole keeps coming. Ajagba landing punches, but Bakole absorbing them as he moves forward. Bakole lands a hard left. Ajagba is slowing. Bakola unloading and Ajagba gets loose and answers with a flurry of punches. Ajagba 39, Bakole 37.
Round 5: Actions quiets. Bakole may have expended too much energy. He leans against the ropes, allowing Ajagba to move in. Ajagba lands lefts and Bakole looking for an opening for his right. Ajagba patiently throwing jabs. Bakoke springs off the ropes in attempt to land a right and instead got hit with a right. Ajagba 49, Bakole 46.
Round 6: Bakole looks alive again. But it’s Ajagba who opens with a flurry of punches and safely bouncing away from Bakole. Ajagba peppers Bakole and Bakole throws jabs in return. Bakole pursues Ajagba with more energy and pops Ajagba in the nose, drawing blood. Ajage lands a nice left hook and Bakole stumbles forward. Bakole lands a crisp left and the blood is flowing from Ajagba’s nose. Ajagba 59, Bakoke 55.
Round 7: Bakole moves out quickly and chasing after Ajagba, who stays on the move. Ajagba not just running. He’s punching too, maybe frustrating Bakole. Bakole lands a few lefts and maybe grazes Ajagba with a right. Ajagba fights back. Ajagba 68, Bakole 65.
Round 8: Bakole picking up the pace, but Ajagba remains elusive. Crowd cheering, apparently in hopes of setting more action. Bakole calling for Ajagba to meet him in the center of the ring. He fires two lefts but stays on the move. Bakole lands a hard left. Ajagba remains a moving target, but takes a hard right. Bakole landing a barrage with Ajagba on the ropes. Ajagba fighting back with body shots but Bakole closes with a nice right. Ajagba 77, Bakole 75.
Round 9: Fighters get tied up quick. Gas tanks may be emptying. This is what Bakole’s wanted, a chance to trade punches, but Ajagba’s getting the best of it early. Ajagba moves away and Bakole moves after him. Bakole lands a few shots and takes a few shots. Bakole clubbing away now. Ajagba 87, Bakole 84.
Round 10: Ajagba showing plenty of energy as he bounces on his feet and out of range. Bakole closes the gap, and Ajagbe lands a couple of jabs. Bakole lands three big shots! And then a couple more. Ajagba back on the move and lands a couple of punches before eating a big punch. Bakole failing to catch up with Ajagba. Runs out of town. Ajagba 97, Bakole 93.
Brayan Leon def. Aaron Rocha Guerrero by decision
Leon smothered Guerrero with punches from the opening bell to the end of the six-round light heavyweight fight.
Guerrero’s accomplishment: He survived.
Leon, a 22-year-old Cuban, knocked down Guerrero with a hard left in the fourth round. But he failed to score KO for the first time of his promising career while improving to 7-0.
The lone judge scored the fight 60-54.
Guerrero, a 29-year-old from Mexico, fell to 11-4-1.
Cheers for His Excellency
Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi boxing power broker, drew cheers as he entered the arena during at about 2:15 a.m. local time in Riyadh. It was not just a polite reception for “His Excellency.’’ He had just completed an impressive stretch of travel, returning to Saudi Arabia from Times Square Friday night for the Canelo Alvarez card in his home country. Alalshikh brokered both boxing shows. And he looked more intact than Ryan Garcia, who suffered a massive upset Friday in the last of three featured fights in New York.
Richard Riakporhe def. Kevin Espindola by TKO
It was the chiseled Raikporhe vs. the chubby Espindola and looks did not deceive in the heavyweight bout.
Raikporhe, the 35-year-old Brit, battered Espindola with body shots and dropped him in the fourth round. Espindola, a 28-year-old from Argentinia, never made it out for the fourth round because his corner informed the referee their fighter was retiring.
It was an impressive performance for Raikporhe, who was coming off of his first career loss, a defeat by unanimous decision to Chris Billam-Smith with the WBO world cruiserweight title at stake.
He improved to 18-1 and Espindola fell to 9-10.
Marco Verde def. Michel Polina by TKO
Verde, a silver medalist at the 2024 Olympics, needed less than two minutes to stop Polina in his pro debut.
Verde, at 23-year-old from Mexico, showed speed and power and dropped Polina to the canvas within the first 30 seconds again.
Polina, 33, hit the canvas again before the referee stopped the fight with 1:34 left in the first round of the middleweight bout.
While Verde improves to 1-0, Polina drops to 4-6-2-3.
Mohammed Alakel def. Alexander Morales by decision
Morales, a 19-year-old from Mexico, already has fought 25 times a pro. His career is unlikely to end with his wearing a championship belt.
He lost for the seventh time in eight bouts this year and his record dropped to 6-14-5.
Alakel, a 20-year-old from Saudi Arabia coasted to victory in the six-round lightweight bout behind an assortment of jabs, uppercuts and body shots. He improved to 4-0.
The judge scored the bout 60-54.
Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull time
The six-fight main card is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET
Where is the Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull fight location?
The Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull fight will get underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
How to watch Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull fight
The entire fight card will be streamed on DAZN PPV.
Watch Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero with DAZN
Main card
Canelo Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) vs. William Scull (23-0, 9 KOs); WBC, WBO, WBA, IBF super middleweight titles
Jaime Munguia (44-2, 35 KOs) vs. Bruno Surace (26-0-2, 5 KOs)
Martin Bakole (21-2, 16 KOs) vs. Efe Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs)
Badou Jack (28-3-3, 17 KOs) vs. Noel Mikaelian (27-2, 12 KOs); WBC cruiserweight title
Marco Verde (debut) vs. Michel Polina (4-5-3, 2 KOs)
Brayan Leon (6-0, 6 KOs) vs. Aaron Guerrero (11-3-1, 7 KOs)
Canelo Alvarez to fight (approximately) at dawn
Alvarez is expected to head to the ring at 6 a.m. local time in Riyadh, less than an hour after sunrise. The early bouts start at 1 a.m. in Riyadh, viewer friendly for viewers in the U.S. but a challenge for Alvarez and the others.
Canelo Alvarez faces height disadvantage
Alvarez has shrugged off the 4-inch height disadvantage he’ll be facing against the 5-foot 11 1/2 Scull. At 5-7 1/2, Alvarez routinely fights taller opponents. Over his past five fights – all victories for Alvarez – three of his opponents were 6 feet or taller. And he’s coming off a victory by unanimous decision over 6-1 Edgar Berlanga.
Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull price
The Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull card is available for $59.99 but was also available for $89.99 via the DAZN Knockout Weekend Bundle that included the Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero card on Friday, May 2.
Canelo Alvarez record
Canelo Alvarez has a record of 62 wins, two losses, and two draws, with his most recent bout being ruled a unanimous decision win over Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14, 2024.
William Scull record
William Scull comes in with a record of 23 wins and no losses, with his most recent bout being a unanimous decision win against Vladimir Shishkin on Oct. 19, 2024.
Follow USA TODAY Sports on Bluesky.
This post appeared first on USA TODAY
