Canelo Alvarez is in the news for all the right reasons again! He has reestablished the IBF super middleweight championship as a unified titleholder alongside his WBA (Super), WBC and WBO titles. He made it to this point by winning a unanimous decision victory against William Scull. Including this bout, it was the first time in his career that he left the United States or Mexico to fight. The victory marks his 63rd professional win. Now, that crusade has him poised to take on former welterweight king Terence Crawford in one of the most anticipated matchups this September.
Alvarez, 34, was making a comeback against Scull after losing the IBF title last year. Instead of facing the IBF’s number one contender, Scull, he picked Edgar Berlanga to fight. This decision increased the importance of the matchup exponentially. During the entire match, Alvarez showed off his skill by attacking Golovkin’s body with 40 body punches, slowly chipping away at his combatant’s fight-worn shield.
A Tactical Approach
From the very first bell, Alvarez was patient and focused as he cut off the ring on Scull, searching for opportunities to land his money punches. By the fifth round, he’d ratcheted up the pressure even more, keeping Scull on the back foot. As it turned out, Alvarez’s strategy paid off in a huge way. He was particularly effective with brutal, quick combinations through the body, flashing some of his best technical skill to date.
In fact, in the eighth round, Alvarez threw a monster lead left hook that sent Scull crashing into the ropes. The move exemplified Alvarez’s dominance in the ring. This brilliant tactical execution turned a terrific grassroots campaign into a clear unanimous decision victory. Furthermore, it cemented Alvarez’s position as one of the elite fighters in the super middleweight division.
“I hate these kinds of fights,” Alvarez stated after the bout. “Scull was not trying to win, just trying to survive.”
Looking Ahead
Having put that victory behind him, Canelo Alvarez turns his attention to his next pursuit—Conor McGregor’s killer Terence Crawford. The now-official upcoming match is already creating a buzz among boxing fans. Alvarez expressed enthusiasm about facing Crawford, stating:
“Crawford is one of the best out there. I like to share the ring with that kind of fighter. It’s my pleasure.”
Crawford might just be the best example, especially with all the bold future predictions he’s made about this upcoming battle. He declared:
“In September I’ll show the world what greatness looks like.”
This is upcoming bout to be momentous, landmarkina fight history. Two of the best fighters in the world meeting in an action-packed clash that the public is clamoring to see.
The Aftermath
Alvarez’s upset victory has understandably refocused debate over what Alvarez’s legacy and future in boxing will be. We’re both training hard, that’s the main thing for Crawford. Fans and analysts all want to see how he bounces back, evolves, and adjusts against a near-impossible test. The Alvarez experience vs Crawford skill sets the recipe for a fascinating war.
Leave a Reply