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Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Canelo Alvarez, the face of modern boxing, steps into the
ring tonight with a clear mission: secure his first knockout victory since 2021.
Standing in his way is the undefeated Cuban, William Scull, as the pair collide for
the unified super middleweight world championship.
Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs), the reigning WBC, WBA, and WBO titleholder, faces a
determined Scull (23-0, 9 KOs), who captured the IBF crown in October with a
victory over Vladimir Shishkin. Despite Scull's unblemished record, the oddsmakers
heavily favor the 34-year-old Mexican superstar, with a significant wager required
for those betting on a Canelo knockout. His last stoppage came against Caleb Plant
in November 2021.
While the four super middleweight belts are on the line, this fight is also seen by many as a chance for Alvarez to maintain his activity and rediscover his knockout prowess.
USA TODAY Sports is on the ground in Riyadh, providing live updates, round-by-
round analysis, and highlights from the entire fight card. Stay tuned for the latest
action!
Live Updates:
Martin Bakole vs. Efe Ajagba - Heavyweight
Round 1: The visual contrast is stark as the towering 6-foot-6 Efe Ajagba (240 lbs)
appears almost slender compared to the massive 6-foot-6, 299-pound frame of
Martin Bakole. This heavyweight clash promises power. Ajagba starts by
establishing distance with consistent jabs, while Bakole looms, yet to unleash any
significant offense. Bakole finally connects with a solid jab, but Ajagba's higher
activity and a strong right hand at the bell give him the edge in the opening round.
USA TODAY Sports scores it: Ajagba 10, Bakole 9.
Brayan Leon def. Aaron Rocha Guerrero by Decision - Light Heavyweight (6
Rounds)
From the opening bell, the 22-year-old Cuban, Brayan Leon (7-0, 6 KOs),
relentlessly pressured Aaron Rocha Guerrero (11-4-1, 7 KOs). Leon's constant
barrage of punches left Guerrero fighting to survive. In the fourth round, a powerful
l left hand sent Guerrero to the canvas. Despite the knockdown, Leon couldn't
secure his seventh consecutive knockout, but his dominant performance was clear.
The lone judge scored the fight 60-54 in favor of Leon.
Cheers for His Excellency
A notable moment in the arena saw Turki Alalshikh, the influential Saudi boxing
power broker, receive a warm welcome as he entered. His presence underscores the
significance of this event, especially considering his involvement in brokering both
this card and the recent Ryan Garcia fight in New York. Alalshikh's quick return
from Times Square highlights his dedication to the sport in his home country.
Richard Riakporhe def. Kevin Espindola by TKO - Heavyweight (Round 4)
The physical disparity between the sculpted Richard Riakporhe (18-1, 13 KOs) and
the stockier Kevin Espindola (9-10, 3 KOs) proved to be a telling sign in their
heavyweight encounter. The 35-year-old Briton systematically attacked
Espindola's body, eventually dropping the Argentinian in the third round.
Espindola, 28, did not answer the bell for the fourth round as his corner informed
the referee of his retirement. This was a strong comeback for Riakporhe after his
first career loss to Chris Billam-Smith.
Marco Verde def. Michel Polina by TKO - Middleweight (Round 1)
Making his professional debut, 2024 Olympic silver medalist Marco Verde (1-0, 1 KO)
needed less than two explosive minutes to dispatch Michel Polina (4-6-2-3, 2 KOs).
The 23-year-old Mexican showcased impressive speed and power, dropping Polina
twice in the opening round. The referee halted the contest with 1:34 remaining.
Mohammed Alakel def. Alexander Morales by Decision - Lightweight (6 Rounds)
In a bout that highlighted experience versus potential, the 19-year-old Mexican
veteran Alexander Morales (6-14-5, 1 KO), with 25 professional fights under his belt,
fell to the younger Saudi Arabian prospect, Mohammed Alakel (4-0, 1 KO). The 20-
year-old Alakel controlled the fight with a variety of jabs, uppercuts, and body
shots, cruising to a comfortable decision victory. The judge scored the fight 60-54
for Alakel.
Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull - Main Event Information:
Fight Time (Approximate): Canelo Alvarez is expected to enter the ring around 6:00
a.m. local time in Riyadh (Sunday, May 5th). The main card began at 7:00 p.m. ET on
Saturday.
Location: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
How to Watch: The entire fight card is being streamed live on DAZN PPV.
Main Card Lineup:
Canelo Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) vs. William Scull (23-0, 9 KOs) - WBC, WBO, WBA,
IBF super middleweight titles
Jaime Munguia (44-2, 35 KOs) vs. Bruno Surace (26-0-2, 5 KOs)
Martin Bakole (21-2, 16 KOs) vs. Efe Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs)
Badou Jack (28-3-3, 17 KOs) vs. Noel Mikaelian (27-2, 12 KOs) - WBC cruiserweight
title
Marco Verde (debut) vs. Michel Polina (4-5-3, 2 KOs)
Brayan Leon (6-0, 6 KOs) vs. Aaron Guerrero (11-3-1, 7 KOs)
Alvarez Faces Height Disadvantage:
Despite being the shorter man at 5-foot-7 1/2, Canelo Alvarez has downplayed the
four-inch height difference against the 5-foot-11 1/2 William Scull. Throughout his
career, Alvarez has consistently faced and defeated taller opponents, including
three out of his last five victories. His most recent win was a unanimous decision
over the 6-foot-1 Edgar Berlanga.
Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull PPV Price:
The Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull fight card is available for purchase on DAZN
PPV for $59.99. It was also included in a DAZN Knockout Weekend Bundle for
$89.99, which featured the Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero fight.
Fighter Records:
Canelo Alvarez: 62 wins, 2 losses, 2 draws. Last fight: Unanimous decision win over
Edgar Berlanga (September 14, 2024).
William Scull: 23 wins, 0 losses. Last fight: Unanimous decision win against Vladimir
Shishkin (October 19, 2024).
Flashback: Canelo's Early Rise to Prominence:
Long before unifying titles and becoming a global icon, a young Canelo Alvarez
was making waves. At just 20, he captured his first world title with a decisive
victory over Matthew Hatton, brother of former two-weight world champion Ricky
Hatton.
"This was my first world title shot, but it's the first of many and I'll win them all for
my fans. I'm going to be the next big name of Mexico," Alvarez declared after his
win.
His prediction proved accurate. In his first defense of the WBC junior middleweight
title, on Cinco de Mayo weekend in 2012, Alvarez faced the legendary Shane
Mosley. While Mosley was past his prime, the victory was a significant milestone
for the then 21-year-old Canelo. He dominated Mosley, landing a remarkable 52%
of his punches in a unanimous decision win that served as the chief support to
Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto.
"I didn't expect him to be that fast or that good," Mosley admitted afterward. "He's
up there with the top guys I've faced. Mayweather is fast, Cotto, all those guys I
fought. He's up there with them."
Tonight, Canelo Alvarez looks to add another significant chapter to his storied
career against the undefeated William Scull. Will he secure the knockout he desires,
or will Scull pull off a major upset on the global stage? Stay with USA TODAY
Sports for live updates and analysis as the drama unfolds in Riyadh.
