Canelo Alvarez is gearing up for his return to the ring, aiming to solidify his dominance in the super middleweight division. While his upcoming fight against William Scull may not generate the same excitement as other potential matchups, it represents a crucial opportunity for Canelo to reclaim the IBF title and reaffirm his status as the undisputed champion.
On May 3, 2025, Canelo will kick off his four-fight deal with Saudi Arabia by facing IBF champion William Scull. With the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO, and The Ring titles on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. However, many view Scull as a lesser opponent compared to Canelo’s previous rivals.
Scull boasts an undefeated record of 23-0, but it pales in comparison to Canelo’s impressive 62-2 resume. Speculation suggests this fight is a stepping stone toward a highly anticipated showdown with Terence Crawford in September. Yet, Oscar De La Hoya, a former six-division world champion, has issued a warning: Canelo should not underestimate Scull.
During a press event for Ryan Garcia, De La Hoya was asked about Canelo’s next fight. His response was unexpected: “I do not know who Scull is, and I’m a boxing guy,” De La Hoya said per iFLTV’s Colm McGuigan.
Referee Harvey Dock separates WBC/WBA/WBO super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga at the end of the 11th round during a title fight at T-Mobile Arena on September 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
The promoter made it clear that it was not a personal criticism of Canelo. I swear I’m not just saying this because it’s Canelo and I don’t like Canelo. I’m saying this because I do not know who Scull is,” he emphasized.
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De La Hoya’s warning to Canelo
Despite his lack of familiarity with Scull, De La Hoya pointed out that the Cuban fighter’s style could pose a challenge for Canelo. “And when I hear Cuban, you better be careful because he’s gonna have a lot of movement. He’s gonna have a lot of footwork, and that gives Canelo trouble,” De La Hoya stated.
The Cuban Style: A Potential Threat
De La Hoya recalled that Canelo has historically struggled against fighters with strong lateral movement and footwork, such as Erislandy Lara and Floyd Mayweather.
“Anybody who moves like Erislandy Lara, anybody who moves like Floyd Mayweather, who goes side-to-side boxing Canelo, who’s on his quicksand feet, is going to beat him,” De La Hoya warned.
What’s next for Canelo and Scull?
Scull enters this fight with immense motivation, aiming for a victory that would catapult him to stardom. For Canelo, the fight is an opportunity to silence critics and prove he remains the king of the super middleweight division. However, as De La Hoya’s warning suggests, Scull’s Cuban boxing style could present unexpected challenges.
