William Scull meets boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez on Saturday – and could spring the surprise of the year with the perfect tactics.
The boxing world is eagerly awaiting one of the most prestigious fights of the year in Riyadh on Saturday evening (Sunday night according to German time): Cuban IBF world champion William Scull (23-0, 9 knockouts) meets none other than Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 knockouts), who currently holds the WBA, WBC and WBO super middleweight belts. The main fight of the DAZN PPV event is therefore about nothing less than the unification of all major world titles – and for Scull about the perhaps unique opportunity to write boxing history.
The betting odds speak for themselves: Canelo is listed as the heavy favorite by international bookmakers. Scull, on the other hand, is considered to have almost no chance. But anyone familiar with the Cuban style knows that this assessment could be dangerously misleading. Scull is not a showman, not a puncher – but a highly disciplined technician who unnerves his opponents with footwork, control and precision. His style is reminiscent of the classic school of Cuban boxing: defensively compact, always lurking in reverse for counterattacks, yet surprisingly physical and robust.
Canelo has recently shone against offensively-minded boxers such as Munguia and Berlanga. However, he traditionally finds it difficult against nimble counter-punchers. Floyd Mayweather, Erislandy Lara and Dmitriy Bivol have shown in the past that Canelo can be disenchanted with movement, a sense of distance and defensive discipline – even if the verdict was not always fair.
The judges as the great unknown
Scull could also have to do more than his opponent to win on Saturday. The Cuban is competing as a clear “B-side” – in an event that has long been regarded as a springboard for a possible Canelo-Crawford megafight in the fall. A close fight is unlikely to be scored in Scull’s favor. It will be all the more important to frustrate Canelo early on, land clear punches and keep the pace high over the full distance. Trainer Franquis Aldama believes his protégé is ready: “We’ve worked hard, William is in top form – we believe in a sensation.”
For Canelo, the duel is more than a compulsory task – it is a test of character. The Mexican is still one of boxing’s biggest stars, but his brilliance is no longer untouchable. After contested victories, declining knockout rates and stylistic problems against technically strong opponents, Scull could be just the kind of opponent to show Canelo’s limits once again.
Text by Robin Josten