Canelo Alvarez’s status as the undisputed super-middleweight champion is at risk due to International Boxing Federation (IBF) regulations. Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) plans to relinquish his IBF belt instead of participating in a scheduled purse bid on June 6 for a fight against the IBF’s mandatory challenger, William Scull of Cuba (22-0, 9 KOs), according to sources from BoxingScene.
The IBF mandates that Alvarez, 33, must face their mandatory challenger next. Having held the undisputed title since defeating Caleb Plant on November 6, 2021, Alvarez has defended his titles four times, most recently winning a unanimous decision against Jaime Munguia on May 4.
While WBA President Gilberto Mendoza suggests Edgar Berlanga as Alvarez’s next opponent, IBF President Daryl Peoples remains firm on the mandatory challenger ruling. Alvarez’s manager and trainer, Eddy Reynoso, did not respond to requests for comment.
By opting out of the June 6 purse bid against Scull, Alvarez will vacate his IBF title. This decision will prompt Scull to seek a new opponent, likely IBF’s No. 2 contender, Vladimir Shishkin of Russia (16-0, 10 KOs). Shishkin’s promoter, Dmitriy Salita, mentioned that negotiations are underway to finalize the bout’s venue and date, with a preference for streaming it on DAZN or featuring it on the same card as a potential Alvarez-Berlanga fight on September 14. However, Scull’s promoter favors hosting the fight in Germany.
Shishkin expressed confidence in his ability to defeat Scull, predicting a knockout after the sixth round. An official familiar with the situation expects the Scull-Shishkin fight to be arranged in June and likely to take place in August or September.
Despite the financial benefits of an Alvarez fight, the IBF official acknowledged the organization’s strict enforcement of mandatory positions. Scull’s team understands why Alvarez might vacate the belt, given potential high-profile bouts against Berlanga, Terence Crawford, or David Benavidez. A fight against the relatively unknown Scull seems less appealing.
Canelo Alvarez faces a critical decision: to defend his IBF title or pursue more lucrative and high-profile fights against opponents like Benavidez, Crawford, or a rematch with Dmitry Bivol. As June approaches, the boxing world waits to see how this situation will unfold.
IBF Rules
The IBF’s strict regulations require champions to face mandatory challengers or risk being stripped of their titles. The organization’s commitment to enforcing these rules follows a bribery scandal in 2000, ensuring fair competition and integrity within the sport.
Future Implications
Alvarez’s potential vacating of the IBF title opens the door for new matchups and reshuffles the super-middleweight landscape. Fans and pundits alike are eager to see how Alvarez navigates his next steps in this dynamic and competitive field.
