Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez secured a unanimous decision victory over William Scull in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 3. The Mexican superstar defended his undisputed super-middleweight championship in his first fight outside North America.
Canelo's performance in the 12-round bout didn't impress everyone. Many viewers and critics felt the fight was closer than the scorecards suggested. Amir Khan, a retired two-weight world champion who Canelo knocked out in 2016, shared his thoughts on the match.
Khan told Fight Hub TV:
"It wasn't the prettiest and it could have gone either way. Because I probably had Scull winning by two rounds. I like Canelo, I think he's a great fighter, and I think he was picking the shots better and landing the cleaner shots. Canelo was marked up a little bit, but look it could've went either way."
Despite the criticism, Canelo's victory maintains his status as the first fighter to achieve undisputed status at super-middleweight in the 'four belt era'. The 34-year-old from Guadalajara has spent his entire career fighting in the United States and Mexico before this Saudi Arabian debut.
Alvarez won't have much time to dwell on this performance. He's set to face fellow pound-for-pound superstar Terence 'Bud' Crawford on September 12 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
This blockbuster matchup will make history as the first boxing event promoted by OFC President Dana White under the TKO Promotions banner. Turki Alalshikh of Riyadh Season will co-promote the event, continuing Saudi Arabia's growing influence in big-time boxing.
More details about Canelo's victory and his upcoming fight with Crawford can be found on ESPN's website.
