Alvarez defeats Scull to retain belts

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez defeated William Scull by unanimous decision on Sunday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reclaiming the undisputed super middleweight championship. Alvarez entered the fight expecting to put on a show, but the bout turned out to be slow and one-sided, with Scull spending most of the night moving around the ring and rarely engaging.

From the opening bell, Alvarez pressed forward, cutting off the ring and landing sharp body shots. Scull, who came in with a height and reach advantage, relied on his footwork to keep distance, but struggled to mount any meaningful offense. Alvarez’s steady attacks to the body, especially in the second and fourth rounds, left Scull off balance and unable to set his feet for counters.

By the middle rounds, the pattern was clear: Alvarez stalked, Scull circled, and the crowd grew restless. In the fifth, Scull managed to break through with a right uppercut, but Alvarez quickly regained control with more body punches. As the fight wore on, Alvarez’s combinations to the body and head continued to score points, while Scull’s output remained low. In total, Álvarez landed 40 body shots, compared to just six from Scull.

After twelve rounds, the judges scored the fight 115-113, 116-112, and 119-109, all for Alvarez, handing Scull the first loss of his professional career. The win marked Álvarez’s 63rd victory and his second time as the undisputed champion in the division.

Alvarez did not hide his disappointment with the way the fight played out. “It was a boring fight. I hate this type of fighter, someone who isn’t trying to win, just trying to survive,” Alvarez said after the final bell. His frustration was clear, as he had hoped for a more competitive contest. The fight has entered history as having the lowest number of punches thrown (445) in a 12-round boxing match, within the last 40 years, as tracked by Compubox.

With the win, Alvarez now looks ahead to his next match, a mighty showdown with Terrence Crawford in September. He eagerly looks forward to this fight as he hopes it will wash off the bitter taste left by his meeting with Scull.