The biggest star in boxing touches down in Riyadh this week, yet the atmosphere feels closer to a tune-up than a Cinco de Mayo extravaganza. Canelo Alvarez’s first appearance in Saudi Arabia, a $59.99 DAZN PPV opposite IBF belt-holder William Scull, has generated little traction outside hard-core circles. Part of the problem is recognition: the 32-year-old Cuban-German champion has never met a top-10 rival, and his title came via a disputed decision over Vladimir Shishkin last October. Odds reflect the gap; DAZN Bet lists Álvarez a 1/50 favourite, Scull a distant 19/2.
Canelo’s own recent form hasn’t helped the sizzle. Since clearing out Gennadiy Golovkin in 2022 he has opted for risk-controlled assignments: a points win over Jaime Munguía in May 2024 and a wide decision against Edgar Berlanga last September that lost momentum when Berlanga was dropped early. Saturday’s bout exists mainly to recapture the IBF belt Álvarez vacated to face Berlanga, restoring four-belt status ahead of an October Las Vegas showdown with Terence Crawford.
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The undercard is respectable: Munguía returns against France’s Bruno Surace, heavyweight knockout specialist Martin Bakole meets Efe Ajagba, and Badou Jack defends his WBC cruiserweight strap against Norair Mikaelian - but even bundled with Friday’s Garcia-Romero PPV, sales chatter has been muted. Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season bankroll ensures the fighters are paid, yet social-media buzz is a fraction of December’s Fury-Usyk frenzy.
If there is a marketing path, it runs through Crawford. A well-timed appearance would tether Saturday’s bout to the pound-for-pound intrigue of Crawford hunting a third undisputed crown. So far Bud has stayed quiet, and Canelo’s camp remains focused on business: reclaim the IBF, tick another global venue, move on.
Read fresh info about the Canelo vs. Scull event here.
Image Credit: Queensberry Promotions