Canelo Alvarez won a lackluster decision against William Scull to unify the super middleweight titles, setting up a highly anticipated fight with Terence Crawford on September 12 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Canelo Alvarez did what he needed to do, though it wasn’t pretty. On Saturday, he put his WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, and The Ring super middleweight titles on the line. Facing IBF champion William Scull in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the bout was a step toward a superfight with Terence Crawford.
Fans hoping for vintage Canelo were left wanting. Scull limited Alvarez’s power-punching, but Canelo edged out rounds with pressure and body work. The decision? Lifeless, yet clear—115-113, 116-112, 119-109.
But hey, it happened, and that’s what counts. Right after the fight, Turki Alalshikh brought out Bud Crawford. The long-rumored bout between Alvarez and Crawford? Official for Sep. 12 at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas.
Oh, and get this—Alalshikh announced the card as the inaugural event for UFC CEO Dana White’s TKO Boxing. Crawford’s moving up from 154 to face Canelo at 168. He last fought in August, snagging the WBA light middleweight title from Israil Madrimov.