Three Keys to Victory for Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull

On May 3, Canelo Alvarez and William Scull (23-0, 9 KOs) will collide for undisputed super middleweight glory at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the entire event set to be shown live on DAZN Pay-Per-View worldwide. This will be Canelo’s first fight under his historic four-fight deal with Riyadh Season.

Three Keys to Victory for Canelo Alvarez on May 3

Experience

Canelo has experience by the bucketload and has shared the ring with some of the best fighters on the planet. Despite Scull being a world champion, he has yet to operate anywhere near Canelo’s level.

Read More: Canelo Alvarez Three Toughest Victories

Alvarez has gone toe-to-toe with elite names like Gennady Golovkin (three times), Floyd Mayweather, and Dmitry Bivol, among many others. That kind of experience will prove invaluable on May 3, against an opponent whose biggest night came when he defeated Vladimir Shishkin to win the IBF title. Even if Scull performs way above the level he has shown, Canelo’s vast experience and ring IQ should allow him to adjust with ease.

Counterpunching

Canelo is a phenomenal counterpuncher. Scull will likely aim to keep the fight at range, using his reach, but Canelo’s ring IQ allows him to slip shots and punish mistakes with vicious, well-timed counters.

Looking ahead to May 3, I can see Canelo slipping the jab of Scull and punishing the Cuban. Despite his lack of knockouts in recent times, he has shown he still has power, knocking down John Ryder, Jermell Charlo, Jaime Munguia and Edgar Berlanga.

Defensive Ability

One of Canelo’s strongest traits is his defensive acumen. His reflexes are exceptional, allowing him to use slip-and-roll tactics to evade incoming punches. His high guard should help neutralise Scull’s jab, while also putting him in prime position to launch counterattacks.

Read More: Five Super Middleweight Fighters to Watch in 2025

Footwork is another key component of Canelo’s defence. He uses subtle movements, paired with slick head movement, to avoid punches and maintain distance. The precise footwork also allows him to control his fights. These excellent defensive skills are closely connected to the counterpunching we discussed earlier.

Alvarez vs Scull Undercard

• Bruno Surace vs. Jaime Munguia, rematch, 12 rounds, super middleweights
• Efe Ajagba vs. Martin Bakole, 12 rounds, heavyweights
• Badou Jack vs. Noel Mikaelian, 12 rounds, for Jack’s WBC cruiserweight title
• Marco Verde vs. Michel Polina, 6 rounds, middleweights
• Brayan Leon vs. Aaron Guerrero, 6 rounds, light heavyweights

Stay with Big Fight Weekend for coverage of Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull, including results and video highlights, and post-fight analysis.