Canelo vs Scull: Undercard Strengthened with Heavyweight Clash

Canelo vs Scull has been confirmed for May 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the first fight in his four-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season. This will present an opportunity for Canelo to become the undisputed super middleweight champion. The undercard for this May 3 fight has received a boost as Martin Bakole (21-2, 16 KOs will return to action against Efe Ajagba (20-1, 14 KOs).

Canelo vs Scull Undercard Boosted with Heavyweight Clash

Heavyweight Bout Set for Canelo vs Scull Undercard

Bakole vs Ajagba was set for the Times Square card on May 2, before the Congolese fighter accepted a late call to face Joseph Parker as a later replacement for Daniel Dubois, who withdrew due to illness. Despite being financially rewarded for accepting the fight at late notice, the IBF soon confirmed to Dan Rafael at Fight Freaks Unite that “Bakole is out of the eliminator.” 

“We will move on to the next leading available contender,” added the spokesperson.

It now appears that Bakole-Ajagba is back on, but there will no longer be an opportunity for the winner to get a mandatory shot at the IBF crown. This is still an intriguing heavyweight bout with both showing how dangerous they can be. A win will propel the winner into even bigger fights.

Dana White and Turki Alalshikh

When writing anything about planned fights and potential titles on offer, it feels like an asterisk should be at the side, following the news of Dana White and Turki Alalshikh’s new as yet unnamed boxing promotional company under the TKO banner.

Dana White has stated that three letters before a belt are unnecessary, hinting at major changes under TKO. This sparked a wave of fighters posting photos on social media with their belts, suggesting that many may remain loyal to the current sanctioning bodies. This could potentially reduce the involvement of His Excellency in the current boxing landscape, unless under the TKO banner.

The plans from Alalshikh and White are still in their infancy but have already shaken the boxing world. It remains to be seen how this new promotional/league concept will fit into the current landscape, but it’s clear this could be a very bumpy ride.