Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez could soon become two-time undisputed champion.
The Mexican had held all four super-middleweight world titles since a 2021 win over Caleb Plant. After an unsuccessful jump up to light-heavyweight, losing to Dmitry Bivol, he then defended his belts on four occasions with points wins over Gennady Golovkin, John Ryder, Jermell Charlo and Jaime Munguia.
Canelo was then ordered by the IBF to face William Scull as the mandatory challenger but instead decided to be stripped of the title and face the WBA’s number one challenger in Edgar Berlanga – a more lucrative bout given the Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry on offer. He ran out a wide points winner after scoring one knockdown.
“There are levels. There are stars and there are superstars. They make the championship, not the championship makes them. Who is William Scull? I never hear about him. I’m not gonna do whatever they want. I’m gonna do whatever I want. Because I deserve it, because of all I have done.”
It now appears that the IBF title is significant to him, however, as Scull – who won the vacant belt officially by outpointing Vladimir Shiskin in Germany in October, a largely forgettable affair – has confirmed in an interview with Alberto León Pacheco that he has been approached by Canelo’s team to make the unification bout.
Scull also shared the news on his Instagram page, revealing the details that he would be sitting down with the other side on January 10 to discuss terms for a targeted May fight in Las Vegas.
