Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and William Scull will fight for the undisputed title in Riyadh.
Germany-based Cuban IBF world champion William Scull will defend his title for the first time against Saul Canelo Alvarez on May 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 knockouts) was scheduled to fight social media star Jake Paul, but instead it will be William Scull from the AGON stable.
“The legend Saul Alvarez will face William Scull in an undisputed fight on May 3 in Riyadh,” Turki Al-Sheikh posted on social media. “If he wins the fight in May, he will be undisputed again.”
Scull (23-0, 9 knockouts) won the vacant IBF belt against Russia’s Vladimir Shishkin by unanimous decision at the Stadthalle in Falkensee last October. Canelo had relinquished the IBF title after his victory over Jaime Munguia on Cinco de Mayo last year in Las Vegas.
Canelo is the reigning WBO, WBA and WBC world super-middleweight champion. The Mexican superstar, who was previously promoted by Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, recently signed a four-fight deal with Saudi entertainment minister Al-Sheikh and the Riyadh Season.
Al-Sheikh has repeatedly stated that he would like to match Canelo with reigning WBA world super welterweight champion Terence Crawford. Crawford (41-0, 31 knockouts) became world champion in a fourth weight class last August when he defeated Israil Madrimov by unanimous decision.
Text by Adam Nobley-Forcey