Canelo has a history of bypassing federation mandates. In 2019, the IBF stripped him of his belt for not arranging a bout with Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Now faced with a similar situation, Canelo stated, “As I’ve said, I’m in a position where I can do whatever I want.” This statement came after IBF's recent reminder on May 14 that he has 28 days to negotiate and formalize his next fight.
The potential opponent, William Scull is ranked No. 1 by the IBF and holds an undefeated record across 22 fights with nine knockouts. His credentials include being a former youth champion in Cuba and having professional stints in Argentina and Germany. Scull strengthened his claim for a title shot by defeating Sean Hemphill during the recent event on May 4.
IBF’s strict policy could once again strip Canelo of his title if he refuses to comply with their directive. The organization recently enforced this rule by removing Terence Crawford from his welterweight championship for similar reasons. This creates an anticipated tension between what Canelo wants and what the IBF enforces.