The fight took place on May 4, 2025, at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was part of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations and marked the first of four fights Canelo agreed to with Riyadh Season as the promoter.
Canelo, now 34, entered the ring with an impressive record of 62 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws. He held the WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight titles. Scull, the IBF champion, came in undefeated with 23 wins, including 9 knockouts.
At the weigh-in, Canelo was slightly heavier, while Scull had a height and reach advantage. Despite this, bookmakers didn't give Scull much of a chance against the established champion.
The fight started slowly, with both fighters feeling each other out in the first round. The second round saw low activity, especially from Scull. Things picked up in the third when Scull came alive and had some fun in the ring.
Canelo worked the body in the fourth round while Scull bounced around. By the fifth, fans grew bored and started booing. The sixth round was inactive from both fighters.
After 12 rounds, the judges scored the fight unanimously in favor of Canelo. The crowd seemed happy it was over, as the bout didn't deliver the action many had hoped for.
"It wasn't my best performance, but a win is a win," Canelo said after the fight. "Scull was a tough opponent with an awkward style. I'm happy to unify all the belts and remain the undisputed champion."
The undercard featured several notable fights. Jaime Munguia won a rematch against Bruno Surace by unanimous decision in the super middleweight division. Badou Jack retained his WBC cruiserweight world title in a controversial split decision over Noel Mikaelian, with fans calling it a "robbery."
Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba squared off in a heavyweight bout with title shot implications. Mexican Olympic medalist Marco Verde made his professional debut, while Brayan Leon defeated Aaron Guerrero in a middleweight clash.
Notable attendees included Dmitry Bivol, a potential future opponent for Canelo, promoter Eddie Hearn, and event organizer Turki Alalshikh.
After the main event, welterweight champion Terence Crawford entered the ring, fueling speculation about a possible super fight with Canelo in the future.
This victory adds to Canelo's recent string of successful title defenses. His last five fights include wins over Edgar Berlanga, Jaime Munguía, Jermell Charlo, John Ryder, and Gennady Golovkin.
As Canelo continues his reign as the undisputed super middleweight champion, fans and pundits alike wonder what's next for the Mexican superstar. With three more fights planned in Saudi Arabia, the boxing world eagerly awaits his next move.