Canelo Alvarez intends to deliver a knockout punch to Scull in his debut fight in Saudi Arabia

In the impending bout, Canelo Álvarez, the esteemed Mexican champion, is set to square off against the undefeated William Scull, a Cuban powerhouse based in Berlin, Germany. Known as El Indomable, Scull holds the IBF super middleweight title with a record of 23-0-0 (9 KOs) [1]. The fight promises to be a tense affair as Álvarez aims to defend his undisputed title, while Scull seeks to leverage his Cuban amateur pedigree and tricky style to claim victory [2].

With a tradition of fighting during the Cinco de Mayo weekend, Álvarez, 34, brings a formidable record of 62-2-2 with 39 knockouts into the high-stakes clash [3]. Following a punishing unanimous decision over Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas in September, this contest marks a significant milestone as the Mexican champion steps out of North America for the first time during his nearly 20-year professional career.

The fight will unfold in Riyadh in the early hours of Sunday morning to align with Saturday evening festivities during the Cinco de Mayo weekend back in North America. Despite the contest flying under the radar for casual fans, many view it as a prelude to a highly anticipated super fight between Álvarez and Terence Crawford later this year [5]. Yet, for that future bout to materialize, Álvarez must first secure victory in Riyadh this weekend, and William Scull stands as a major obstacle, potentially throwing a wrench in the works.

"Believe me. This is nothing new for me. But for him, it's gonna be something different, for sure," said Álvarez during a press conference in Riyadh [3]. Ariel Helwani, a veteran combat sports journalist, has commented, "If William Scull wins somehow, someway on Saturday night, he ruins all of those plans" [4].

Scull remains unfazed by the challenges ahead, stating he is ready to take on the task whenever it arises. "Canelo is a great boxer. It's a tough fight, but it's another man. I'm looking to take what is mine as well" [4]. According to betting lines, Scull is a massive underdog heading into the contest.

In other notable matches taking place on the undercard, French super middleweight Bruno Surace will face Jaime Munguia in a rematch, following Surace's devastating sixth-round knockout against Munguia in Tijuana in December 2024 [6]. The victory earned Surace the prestigious Ring magazine's "Upset of the Year" award.

Boxing finds itself at the heart of Saudi Arabia's growing portfolio in the sporting world, a move that draws criticism for what some perceive as an attempt to "sportswash" the kingdom's questionable human rights record [7]. Alongside Formula One, the LIV Golf tour, Newcastle United, and attracting several ageing football stars to its domestic league, Saudi Arabia's strategy culminated in late 2024 when the kingdom was named the host of football's 2034 World Cup [7].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Scull[2] https://www.the mentioned.com/berlin/[3] Provided base article[4] Enrichment data: Key details about the fight[5] Provided base article[6] Provided base article[7] Provided base article

As the world watches the upcoming boxing match between Canelo Álvarez and William Scull, questions about international human rights remain, given Saudi Arabia's involvement in sportswashing through hosting events like this.
Amidst preparation for the 2025 contest, Álvarez, a seasoned sportsman, expressed his readiness, while Scull, the Cuban underdog, remains unfazed and eager to claim victory.
In the wake of the high-stakes boxing match, human rights advocates raise concerns about the involvement of the Saudi kingdom, using such events as a means to whitewash their questionable records.
With the international spotlight on the sport and Álvarez's quest for victory against Scull in 2025, the issue of human rights and sportswashing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains a pressing topic of discussion.

Canelo Alvarez intends to deliver a knockout punch to Scull in his debut fight in Saudi Arabia