Canelo Alvarez will face William Scull in his next fight, a matchup that's got fans talking due to Scull's unique background and potential to challenge the champion.
Alvarez hasn't knocked anyone out since 2021, and while he's looked great in recent fights, fans feel he's lost some shine. They think he hasn't pushed himself hard enough since his 2022 bout with Dmitry Bivol, which was the last time he took a real risk in the ring.
In his last five fights, Canelo has fought big names, but the matches weren't very competitive. He even gave up his IBF super middleweight belt to avoid fighting Scull, who was the mandatory challenger.
Scull's an interesting opponent. He's undefeated in 23 fights at 32 years old. He's fought mostly in Argentina and Germany, only making his US debut this year. In that fight, he beat Sean Hemphill by unanimous decision at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
"Scull's a tough fighter," said boxing analyst Joe Martinez. "He's nearly six feet tall and very muscular. That reach advantage could cause problems for Canelo."
Born in Cuba and now based in Berlin, Scull won the IBF super middleweight title after Canelo gave it up. He beat Vladimir Shishkin easily in Germany to claim the belt.
Scull's name has come up before. Canelo's team has talked about him during negotiations for the champ's last five fights. But until now, they've always found a way to avoid him.
This fight is a big deal because Scull's not as well-known, and he won't bring in as much money as some of Canelo's recent opponents. But he might just be the tough test fans have been wanting to see Canelo take.
The date for the fight hasn't been set yet, but both camps are working on the details. It's sure to be an interesting night when these two finally step into the ring together.
