Canelo Alvarez says IBF super middleweight champion William Scull will be the one who is eating punches in their undisputed 168-lb championship fight this Saturday, on DAZN PPV in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Age Question
Scull (23-0, 9 KOs) has been boasting about what he’s going to “eat” an aging Canelo, who he feels is no longer the fighter he once was. He thinks he’s lost a lot from his game in the last few years, which is true. The Mexican star is approaching 35 and has been in the pros for 20 years since 2005. So, Scull’s observations about his aging could be valid.
Alvarez has looked like a shadow of his former self in his recent fights against Edgar Berlanga, Jaime Munguia, and Jermell Charlo. The knockouts that Canelo used to pile up have disappeared, and he’s labored to win decisions.
Some boxing fans believe that the one-sided beating he took from then-WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in 2022 took the best out of him, leaving the shell that we’ve seen in his last three contests.
Canelo is still winning, but only because he has been very selective in the opposition he has faced. He swerved the young killers, David Benavidez and David Morrell, when they were both fighting at 168. That’s helped Alvarez stay at the top for a little longer.
Canelo’s Reply
“He’s going to eat punches, that’s what he’s going to eat,” said Canelo Alvarez to iFL TV, reacting to William Scull saying that he’s going to “eat” Canelo on Saturday night in their fight in Riyadh.
Canelo seemed both surprised and amused by Scull’s remark about how he’s going to “eat” him on Saturday night. The Mexican superstar isn’t accustomed to his opponents sounding so bold with their fight predictions, but it shows how much the Cuban Scull wants this fight. It means everything to him.
Motivation and Money
Scull hasn’t made the millions that the mega-wealthy Canelo has during his eight-year professional career. According to Forbes, Alvarez’s net worth is estimated at $275 million. That number could easily double in the next three years with fights against Terence Crawford, Chris Eubank Jr., Hamzah Sheeraz, Dmitry Bivol, and David Benavidez. Scull could spoil Canelo’s money train by beating him on Saturday.
“He [Scull] was asked earlier this week what he thinks of Canelo Alvarez, and he said, ‘Look, he’s slowed down. He doesn’t throw as many punches. He’s not as good as he once was, and I can beat him,’” said commentator Todd Grisham to DAZN, talking about Scull’s observation about Alvarez earlier this week, noting that he’s showing deterioration in his game.
“He is a little bit older, and he has slowed down. I think he is among the top 10 fighters in the world,” said Chris Mannix about Canelo.
Last Updated on 04/30/2025
