Unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez is set to face IBF titleholder William Scull on May 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This bout marks the first of Canelo’s four-fight deal with the Saudis, paving the way for a highly anticipated showdown against Terence Crawford in September. In the meantime, a former world champion has shared his thoughts about Scull.
Scull defeated Vladimir Shishkin last year to acquire the IBF strap, but apart from that he has remained in the shadows for most of his career. Canelo would be his biggest fight to date, and Juan Manuel Marquez thinks Scull won’t be able to handle Canelo. While appearing in an interview with ES News of late, Marquez didn’t hold back his tongue.
BERLIN, GERMANY – AUGUST 28: William Scull of Cuba looks on after their Super Middleweight fight between Mathias Eklund and William Scull during the AGON Fight Night at Havelstudios on August 28, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but William Scull is a nobody,” Marquez said when asked to share his opinion about the fight. “He’s nobody in the sport of boxing. He’s the IBF champion, but do you know William Scull? I don’t know William Scull.” The undisputed fight against Canelo will be his second title bout and his first title defense.
While Scull is widely expected to fall short, anything can happen in the ring—an upset could turn him into an overnight sensation. However, for Canelo, this is just another day at the office. Throughout his career, he has faced and beaten some of the world’s best, consistently proving that his skills can stand up to almost anyone.
However, this fight almost didn’t happen because of Jake Paul.
The now-canceled Canelo Alvarez vs. Jake Paul fight
The now-canceled Canelo Alvarez vs. Jake Paul fight was set to be one of the most unexpected boxing events of 2025. Reports suggested the two had signed a deal for a May 3 showdown in Las Vegas, with Netflix backing the event. However, Canelo shocked the boxing world by walking away from the fight in favor of a lucrative four-fight deal with Riyadh Season, which includes a megafight against Terence Crawford in September.
Mixed Zone Brazil V Colombia – Kings World Cup Nations 2025 Final Jake Paul is in the Mixed Zone during the Kings World Cup Nations 2025 Final match between Brazil and Colombia at Allianz Stadium in Milan, Italy, on January 12, 2025. Milan Italy PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xAlessandroxBremecx originalFilename: bremec-mixedzon250112_npEBV.jpg
Paul wasted no time firing back, accusing Canelo of being “bought” and avoiding a bigger payday with him. He pointed out that Canelo had never been part of a boxing event as big as his fight with Mike Tyson, which peaked at 64 million concurrent streams. While Canelo’s decision makes sense from a legacy standpoint, Paul remains a massive draw. The debate now shifts to whether Canelo ducked Paul or simply made a smarter long-term business move.
That said, many are already counting William Scull out months before the fight. If he wants to change that narrative, he’ll need to deliver something extraordinary. Do you believe Scull has what it takes to defeat Canelo Alvarez?
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