Canelo Alvarez needs no one to defend him. He has made a career out of doing that better than anyone.
He’s lost twice and drawn twice in 66 bouts, and the quality of his opposition is unmatched in today’s game.
His losses were to Floyd Mayweather, who is already in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and undisputed light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, who is a lock the moment he becomes eligible.
Look at a list of his victims, though, and it reads like a who’s who of many of the greatest fighters of the 21st century:
• At 175, he’s beaten Sergey Kovalev.
• At 168, he’s turned back Gennadiy Golovkin, Caleb Plant, Billy Joe Saunders and Callum Smith.
• At 160, he’s beaten Golovkin, Miguel Cotto, Daniel Jacobs and Amir Khan.
• At 154, he holds victories over Shane Mosley, Liam Smith, Erislandy Lara and Austin Trout.
And those wins only scratch the surface of what he’s accomplished.
He’s been getting criticism for his last four opponents, particularly because he hasn’t fought David Benavidez. But John Ryder (32-5), Jermell Charlo (35-1-1), Jaime Munguia (43-0) and Edgar Berlanga (22-0) were a combined 132-6-1 at the time they met Alvarez. Ryder accounted for five of those six defeats. So even during a stretch when he didn’t face Benavidez, the opponent fans and media most wanted, he still took on top-tier opposition.
Terence Crawford, arguably the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, awaits in a bout for supremacy at 168.
First, though, he must get past William Scull on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to reclaim the IBF super middleweight title and reestablish himself as undisputed champion.
He surrendered the IBF belt in 2023 — the one Scull would go on to win — to face Munguia instead. But it would be far better for the Alvarez-Crawford promotion if he came into it as undisputed champion.
That’s why Scull is getting this chance. Promoting Alvarez-Crawford for the undisputed title will be huge, but it also allows Crawford to chase history.
He’s been undisputed at both 140 and 147. If he could defeat Alvarez to become undisputed in a third class, it would be the first time in the four-belt era anyone ever accomplished that.
More importantly, it would unquestionably establish Crawford as one of the 25 or 50 greatest boxers who ever lived.
Scull is no prime Golovkin, but he’s 23-0 with 9 KOs and is a smart, slick boxer.
“It’s going to be a difficult fight against a complicated style of boxing like the Cuban style,” Alvarez said. “I’m going to try my best to hurt my opponent.”
Alvarez is -3000 to win and is -200 to win by KO.
Scull may have the motivational edge heading into this fight, but that’s where underestimating Alvarez is a mistake. He’s great because he treats everyone he fights like a prime Mayweather or a prime Golovkin.
Scull knows this is his one and only shot, especially if he doesn’t put on a competitive performance. He and trainer Franquois Aidama are convinced he can pull it off despite the massive odds.
“We know Canelo is one of the best ever, but you are going to see the best of William Scull on [Saturday],” Aidama said.
Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
Turki Alalshikh holds the belts at stake as Canelo Alvarez (L) and William Scull pose for photographers/
Scull doesn’t need to prove himself better over his career than Alvarez. All that matters is being better — for 36 minutes or less — when the bell rings Saturday.
Nothing in camp has been overlooked — every detail has been examined and addressed.
“I rely on my fundamentals, and I’ve sacrificed a lot to be here,” Scull said. “I want people to know that anything is possible. I’m a humble warrior who is proud to represent my fellow Cubans and I’m ready to shock the world with an upset.”
It would go down as one of the biggest upsets in boxing history if Scull were to win, and it will only happen if Alvarez has been cruising his way through training camp.
Anyone who knows Alvarez knows he’s never done that in his pro career. And with a career-defining fight hanging in the balance, it’s unlikely to have happened this time, either.
“We’ve worked hard with a lot of discipline and effort,” Alvarez trainer Eddy Reynoso said. “Canelo is always at the gym. We will be undisputed a second time.”
If Reynoso is right, it will set up Alvarez versus Crawford, one of a handful of the most significant fights of the 21st century and second only in Alvarez’s career to his 2013 bout with Mayweather.
The Scull bout doesn’t carry the same global buzz or historical weight — but don’t expect Alvarez to take it lightly.
He has set himself up for greatness by outworking everyone and never needing to make an excuse for a loss.
It’s unlikely he’ll need one after Saturday, either.