Canelo and Scull: Dull 12-Round Clash, Naoya Inoue Saves Fatal Fury Weekend!

In a night heavy with expectation and history, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez reclaimed his position atop the 168-pound division, defeating Cuban challenger William Scull by unanimous decision to once again become the Undisputed Super-Middleweight World Champion.

The 12-round contest at the T-Mobile Arena saw Canelo add the IBF title back to his collection, joining the WBA, WBC, and WBO belts he already held. The bout was necessitated by the IBF’s decision to strip Alvarez of their title due to his failure to meet mandatory challenger Scull within their stipulated timeframe—a procedural move that handed the belt to the unbeaten Cuban by default. The boxing world questioned whether Scull had truly earned it. On Saturday night, Canelo made sure to answer that question himself.

From the opening bell, Canelo stalked forward behind a tight guard, applying pressure and looking to land his signature body shots. Scull, true to his Cuban roots, was elusive—constantly circling, jabbing, and rarely engaging in the kind of exchanges fans hoped for.

While his footwork was clean and his defense largely intact through the early rounds, it became increasingly clear that offense was not part of Scull’s game plan.

The fight unfolded less like a battle and more like a masterclass in patience. Canelo stayed composed, landing the cleaner, more meaningful shots throughout the bout.

Scull’s jab flicked but lacked venom, and his reluctance to take risks drew growing frustration from the crowd of over 18,000. Boos emerged intermittently, particularly in the later rounds, as fans hoped for a fire that never sparked.

The judges scored it 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112—all in favor of Alvarez, who raised his hand in a subdued celebration, knowing he had done what needed to be done, even if the night lacked fireworks.

Saturday’s contest was less a war than a clash of ideologies. Alvarez, long known for his explosive counters and bodywork, contrasted starkly with Scull’s textbook Cuban style—defensive, fluid, and risk-averse.

Cuban fighters have historically emphasized point scoring and movement over knockouts, a tradition shaped by their dominance in the amateur circuit. Legends like Guillermo Rigondeaux and Erislandy Lara have drawn both praise and criticism for their disciplined, evasive styles—Scull followed in that lineage.

Yet while Cuban boxing is respected for its technical elegance, fans have often found it hard to embrace fighters who seem to fight not to lose rather than to win. Scull’s reluctance to assert himself—even when behind on the cards—invited criticism. By round nine, the question was no longer whether he could win, but whether he would try.

For Alvarez, the victory marks a triumphant return to undisputed status and perhaps one of the last remaining boxes to check in his storied career.

At 34, the Mexican icon continues to evolve—less aggressive than in his early years, more measured, more cerebral. The win over Scull doesn’t rank among his most thrilling performances, but it was a necessary step to silence critics and reclaim what was his.

“I had to do it,” Canelo said post-fight. “That title was taken from me. Now I’ve taken it back. I respect Scull—he’s tricky, but you can’t win by running.”

The night reinforced what many already knew: Alvarez remains the face of boxing in the super-middleweight division. And while William Scull leaves with his first professional loss, he also leaves with questions about how his style can translate to the entertainment demands of modern prizefighting. 

What's Next for Canelo?

With undisputed status regained, speculation turns to Canelo’s next move. Will he entertain a super fight against rising star David Benavidez? A long-rumored rematch with Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight? Or perhaps a farewell tour in Mexico?

Regardless of his decision, Saturday night showed that even when stripped of a belt, Canelo’s grip on the division—and the sport—remains tight. 

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Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs)

William Scull (22-1, 9 KOs)

Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

Result: Canelo wins by unanimous decision (UD) – Scores: 118-110, 117-111, 116-112

Attendance: ~18,000

Titles: WBA, WBC, WBO, and newly reclaimed IBF Super-Middleweight World Championships 

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[Naoya Inoue Delivers Devastating Knockout to Ramon Cardenas, Solidifies Reign as Pound-for-Pound King!]

In a stunning display of resilience, violence, and surgical precision, Naoya “The Monster” Inoue defended his status as the undisputed super-bantamweight world champion on Saturday night, stopping a gutsy Ramon Cardenas in the eighth round of an electrifying title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Inoue, the reigning WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO, and Ring Magazine Lineal Champion, faced adversity early but responded with the ruthlessness that has become his signature. It was only Inoue's second world title defense in the United States. Inoue was under a lot of pressure from the American fans, who have made it a point to harass him on social media to fight on their soil.

The lackluster performance from Canelo and Scull also meant that all eyes were on himself and Cardenas, their failure to put on a show would mean that one of boxing's biggest weekends was a bust. Needless to say, Inoue delivered several times over. With this latest victory against a very rough-and-tumble Cardenas, he improves to 27-0 with 24 knockouts, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most dangerous pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.

The fight opened with Inoue establishing range behind his crisp jab and darting footwork, slicing angles and probing Cardenas with signature feints. But in the second round, the unthinkable happened.

As Inoue lunged forward with a looping left, Cardenas timed a beautiful counter left hook that detonated on Inoue’s jaw, dropping the Japanese superstar to the canvas for only the second time in his career. The crowd erupted in disbelief.

Inoue quickly beat the count—clear-eyed and composed—but the moment was a chilling reminder that even The Monster bleeds.

After the knockdown, a more focused and ferocious Inoue emerged. He tightened his guard, controlled distance with greater discipline, and began to chip away at Cardenas with systematic punishment to the body and head.

Cardenas, for his part, showed heart and technical ability, navigating the ensuing rounds with clever footwork and a busy jab. But he was forced to retreat more and more as Inoue’s pressure and power took their toll.

By round six, Cardenas was breathing harder. By round seven, he was being bullied.

The end came with terrifying finality in round eight. Inoue cornered Cardenas and unleashed a savage barrage—hooks to the ribs, shots upstairs, then back to the body. Cardenas tried to fire back, throwing a pair of arm punches, but was caught with a liver-sapping left and then a surgical right cross that froze him in place.

The follow-up was vintage Inoue: rapid, thunderous rights crashing through Cardenas’ guard. A final hook to the head snapped Cardenas’ chin sideways and sent him collapsing to the canvas, unable to beat the count.

Referee Tony Weeks waved it off at 2:14 of round eight. The Monster had returned. In the post-fight interview, Inoue was characteristically humble but unshaken.

“He caught me clean, and I respect him for that,” said Inoue. “But I knew I had to make him pay for it. I stay sharp because of moments like that.”

Cardenas (23-2, 12 KOs), who entered the ring as a massive underdog, gained the admiration of fans and pundits alike for his heart and skill, despite being ultimately overwhelmed by the sport’s most efficient executioner.

What’s Next for Inoue?

With the super-bantamweight division cleared out, questions now swirl about Inoue’s next move. Will he defend his titles against top contenders like Murodjon Akhmadaliev or Sam Goodman? Or will he dare to jump to featherweight, seeking a title in a fifth weight class?

Whatever the case, Saturday night reminded the world: Naoya Inoue may fall—but he always rises faster, hits harder, and finishes colder.