Undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez is a symbol of greatness, known for a level of skill that few in the world can rival. A four-division world champion, he has faced and defeated elite opponents such as Gennady Golovkin, Billy Joe Saunders, Sergey Kovalev, Shane Mosley, and Miguel Cotto. Yet, despite his storied career and remarkable achievements, last Saturday night’s bout against William Scull in Riyadh may have marked a new low for the boxing legend.
The fight began like many others in Canelo Alvarez’s career—with his signature slow, methodical approach. But as the rounds progressed, the Mexican superstar struggled to find any rhythm or momentum. Meanwhile, William Scull stuck to a game plan seemingly designed to avoid engagement at all costs. While some may place the blame on Scull for the lack of action, Canelo’s elite experience and ring IQ led many to expect him to adapt—to cut off the ring, close the distance, and impose his will.
Instead, fans watched twelve rounds unfold with little of the explosiveness typically associated with a Canelo Alvarez fight. The anticipated shift in pace never came. By the final bell, the bout had earned an unfortunate place in boxing history. According to CompuBox, the two fighters combined for just 445 thrown punches—the fewest ever recorded in a 12-round bout. Alvarez threw only 152 punches, while Scull tallied 293—a total that stunned fans and analysts alike.
Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull just set the record for fewest combined punches thrown in a 12-round fight with 445
Rough weekend for boxing… pic.twitter.com/z0gVAxcXUr
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) May 4, 2025
To put it into perspective, the previous record for the fewest combined punches in a 12-round fight was 459, set by Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker in late 2023. Alvarez’s output alone—just 152 punches—also ranks as the second-fewest ever by a fighter in a 12-round contest, trailing only Devis Boschiero’s 130 punches thrown in 2016. For a fighter long associated with explosive power and sharp counterpunching, Saturday night’s performance felt like an unexpected and troubling low point.
Even though Canelo managed to win the fight via unanimous decision, this surprisingly awful showing from Canelo has cast doubts over his chances against two-weight undisputed champion Terence Crawford–a fight officially confirmed to unfold on 12th September later this year at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. To make matters worse for Canelo, Crawford is known for his slick footwork, which will likely cause Canelo many issues.
However, Canelo wasn’t the only one to record an unwanted record this past weekend.
After Canelo Alvarez, Devin Haney, and Jose Ramirez set an unwanted record
Devin Haney and Jose Ramirez set an unwanted record in their recent bout, delivering the lowest-output 12-round fight of the year so far. According to CompuBox, the two combined for just 110 landed punches—only the fourth time in history a 12-round fight has produced so little action. Haney edged Ramirez 70 to 40 in total connects, but the performance was anything but electrifying.
Hall of Fame commentator Jim Lampley didn’t hold back, saying, “A whole year has gone by, and I think this is a hangover from the Ryan Garcia fight. He is flinching, he is still having nightmares about Garcia’s left hooks.” As the slow-paced fight dragged on, Lampley added, “If ever there was a fight capable of inducing a nap in Times Square, it would be this one.”
Haney eventually secured a unanimous decision victory over Ramirez, but the fans are left asking, at what cost?
That being said, it appears this past weekend, which was being touted as a weekend full of action, turned out to be a snoozefest at best. While Canelo Alvarez couldn’t catch William Scull, Devin Haney continued to cope with the trauma Ryan Garcia left him with last year. What did you make of the weekend boxing bonanza?
The post William Scull Fight Brings a Dark Day in Canelo Alvarez’s Career as Shocking Stats Overshadow Dominant Victory appeared first on EssentiallySports.
