Mexican boxing icon Saul “Canelo” Alvarez unified the super middleweight world titles with a unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten IBF champion William Scull in Riyadh early Sunday morning, MySportDab Reports.
The 34-year-old Alvarez improved his professional record to 63-2-2 with 39 knockouts in what was his first bout outside of North America.
The fight headlined a Saudi Arabian card timed to coincide with prime time Saturday night television in North America and continued Alvarez’s tradition of fighting during the Cinco de Mayo weekend.
Cuban challenger Scull, who entered the contest with a perfect 23-0 record, proved a tricky opponent early on. Utilizing his height and reach advantage, Scull attempted to outbox Alvarez from the outside using footwork and quick jabs.
However, the Mexican champion effectively cut off the ring and landed punishing body shots, slowly breaking down his opponent over 12 rounds.
“He moved even more than I thought. But it’s OK—we win,” Alvarez said after the bout.
The win comes after Alvarez had previously vacated his IBF title when he chose to fight Edgar Berlanga instead of fulfilling a mandatory defense against Scull.
That decision led to this long-awaited unification clash, which Alvarez controlled with veteran poise and power.
Following the victory, WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford entered the ring to confirm a highly anticipated bout with Alvarez set for September 12 in Las Vegas.
On the undercard, Mexican contender Jaime Munguia avenged his previous knockout loss to Bruno Surace, earning a unanimous decision after dominating the rematch with relentless combinations and pressure.
The event was part of Saudi Arabia’s broader sports expansion under the Riyadh Season promotion, which recently signed Alvarez to a four-fight deal. The kingdom continues to invest heavily in international sports amid criticism of using such events to distract from its human rights record.
