Who doesn’t love a superb episode of ‘Saturday Night time Stay’? Properly, this time it was from Saudi Arabia.
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (167.1) was defending his unified tremendous middleweight titles in opposition to Cuba’s William Scull (166.1). Whereas Scull isn’t a family identify within the sport, he did are available with a robust newbie pedigree from the excellent Cuban newbie system. However, historical past tells us that the newbie and professional recreation could be very completely different.
Canelo clocked in with a file of 62-2-2, (39 KOs) and a fame as the most important draw within the sport.
Scull got here in because the undefeated IBF Champion at 23-0, with 9 KOs.
In actuality, it was a mismatch on paper, however may the slick, unbeaten Cuban pose a tough model for Alvarez?
Alvarez mentioned earlier than the combat that he had “confronted each model” and that Scull “received’t deliver something that I haven’t seen earlier than”.
Scull, grateful for the chance on boxing’s greatest stage, stayed considerably quiet and calmly plotted to drag off an upset of epic proportions.
Earlier than the combat, Alvarez, who has confronted some criticism for not dealing with greater names in and round his division, defended the Scull matchup as a special model to face.
Would the power and energy of Alvarez be capable to stem the tide of Scull’s precision, angles, and a talented tactical method mastered in his earlier newbie {and professional} outings?
With Canelo’s WBC, WBA, and WBO, together with Scull’s IBF 168-pound title, all on the road, there was lots of {hardware} at stake.
“We’ll should take it spherical by spherical. I’ve had an excellent preparation and I’m a boxer that may handle all sorts of distances inside the ring, completely different ranges,” mentioned Scull. “We’re not going to go loopy all through the combat”, he continued. However, the perfect guess is that he was going to field and transfer to frustrate his stronger opponent.
Whereas there was the sensation of ‘one other day on the workplace’ for Alvarez, he was able to get at it. “Skilled combat quantity 67 feels the identical for me,” mentioned the WBC, WBA, and WBO champion. “I like boxing. I take pleasure in boxing and for me it’s the identical. It’s the identical pleasure, motivation, and I’m prepared for Saturday”, he mentioned. “He mentioned he’s going to eat me?”, mentioned Alvarez, “the one factor he’s gonna eat is that this” (holding up his fist), he mentioned.
Earlier than the combat, Canelo talked like he was going to welcome Scull to the massive leagues, however in the long run, he appeared content material to cruise to a choice win. This has been one thing he has been criticized for up to now.
Scull did have some motion that appeared to frustrate Alvarez, however it didn’t do sufficient to show the scorecards his method. What it did do was permit Scull to complete the combat and say he went the gap with Alvarez. Nevertheless, it was a combat that lacked any actual motion. A pleasant KO from Alvarez would have finished one thing to moist the urge for food of combat followers for his subsequent bout with undefeated welterweight star Terence Crawford, who was sitting ringside.
Probably the most dramatic second within the ring was when Alvarez and Crawford confronted off in opposition to one another on the finish.
However credit score the place credit score is due. Canelo bought the job finished. Canelo Alvarez by way of UD 12 (115-113, 116-112, 119-109) in strolling away with the WBO, WBC, and IBF tremendous middleweight titles.
Does measurement matter? Subsequent up for Alvarez is a big mega-bout in September with undefeated welterweight star Terence Crawford, who can’t match him in measurement however can go toe to toe with him within the abilities division. Let the predictions and theories start!
Undercard
WBC world Cruiserweight title – Badou Jack W MD 12 Norair Mikaeljan
Tremendous middleweight – Jaime Munguia UD 12 Bruno Surace
Heavyweight – Martin Bakole M Draw 10 Efe Ajagba
Tremendous Middleweight – Brayan Leon UD 6 Aaron Rocha Guerrero
Light-weight – Mohammed Alakel UD 6 Alexander Morales
Middleweight – Marco Verde TKO 1 Michel Polina
Talking of championship careers…
This text is devoted to the reminiscence of boxing choose Tom Kaczmarek, who lately handed on the age of 96. A veteran of over 2000 skilled bouts, with 110 world championship fights, in his excellent profession. Judging took him everywhere in the world, together with the USA, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and Australia in his profession. A member of the New Jersey Boxing Corridor of Fame, his identify is on the poll for the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame. On behalf of everybody at MaxBoxing, our deepest condolences. Relaxation in Peace, champ!
