The Saudi capital, Riyadh, is set to host one of the biggest boxing events of the year, as Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez takes on Cuban contender William Scull in “Fatal Fury” on May 3 at anb Arena as part of Riyadh Season.
Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion, will defend his four major titles—WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO—for the first time outside the United States and Mexico, reflecting Riyadh Season’s growing global stature as a premier hub for world-class boxing.
Considered one of the greatest boxers of the modern era, Canelo holds an exceptional record that makes him the favorite in this bout. However, he faces an undefeated challenger in William Scull, who enters the ring with a perfect record, making him a serious threat to Canelo’s ambitions. The Cuban star boasts impressive speed and strong defensive skills and is determined to become the first fighter to defeat Canelo at this weight class.
In addition to the main event, “Fatal Fury” will feature several other high-profile matchups, showcasing top international boxers across multiple weight divisions. Mexican fighter Jaime Munguia will go head-to-head with Frenchman Bruno Surace in the super welterweight division, while Congolese heavyweight Martin Bakole takes on Nigerian contender Efe Ajagba.
In the cruiserweight division, Swedish fighter Badou Jack will face off against Canadian Ryan Rozicki, while in the welterweight division, Mexican boxers Marco Verde and Michel Bolina will clash. The lightweight division will also witness a thrilling encounter between Cuban Bryan Leon and Mexican Aaron Guerrero.
This event is part of a series of major boxing spectacles hosted by Saudi Arabia, further solidifying its reputation as a global destination for the sport. Riyadh recently staged historic fights, including the heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, as well as Russian champion Dmitry Bivol’s victory over Canadian Artur Beterbiev to unify the light heavyweight division in the highly anticipated rematch “The Last Crescendo.”
Ten days ago, the first press conference for the Canelo vs. Scull fight was held in New York, setting the stage for their highly anticipated undisputed world championship bout in the super middleweight division.
Both fighters expressed their determination to win, with Alvarez seeking to reclaim the IBF belt he previously lost, while Scull enters the fight with confidence after maintaining his undefeated record and capturing the title from Vladimir Shishkin last October.
