In an unexpected turn of events in the boxing world, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, the current undisputed super middleweight champion, is set to face William Scull following orders from the International Boxing Federation (IBF). After defeating Jaime Munguia earlier this month, Alvarez finds himself in a mandatory fight against a relatively unknown but undefeated challenger, William Scull (22-0, 9 KOs).
Scull, who made his mark by defeating Evgeny Shvedenko in July 2022 in a final title eliminator, has now been established as the mandatory challenger. Despite not being as prominent as other potential contenders like David Benavidez or David Morrell, Scull’s consistent performance has positioned him for this pivotal bout. His challenge comes at a time when both Benavidez and Morrell, frustrated by non-enforcement of mandatory challenges by the WBC and WBA respectively, have moved up to the light heavyweight category.
The fight announcement has stirred various reactions, particularly because Alvarez recently dismissed the idea of a fight against Benavidez unless a $200 million offer was tabled. Alvarez’s previous comments about moving up in weight and challenging at cruiserweight add further intrigue to his decision to face Scull instead of pursuing higher-profile or higher-weight class challenges.
Moreover, Alvarez’s focus on a potential fight against Edgar Berlanga—who recently climbed from No. 7 to No. 1 in the WBA rankings—suggests a strategic maneuvering of his career. The boxing community is buzzing with speculation whether Alvarez’s team will negotiate for Scull to step aside to pursue the more lucrative and appealing fight against Berlanga, or if Alvarez will fulfill his mandatory obligations to maintain his undisputed status at 168 pounds.
This situation reflects the complex dynamics of boxing promotions and the delicate balance fighters must maintain between their career aspirations and the often rigid stipulations of boxing sanctioning bodies. As the deadline for negotiations looms, the boxing world watches closely to see if Alvarez will take on Scull or navigate towards a different challenge. The outcome of these negotiations will significantly impact Alvarez’s career trajectory and his standing within the super middleweight division.
