Mexican champion Sául Canelo Álvarez is already in Saudi Arabia to face undefeated Cuban William Scull on May 3, 2025.
The fight, to be held at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, is part of the “Fatal Fury” event and is part of a million-dollar deal between Álvarez and the Saudi government, through its key figure: Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority.
Dignified reception
Canelo Álvarez arrived days early to adapt to the Saudi Arabian time zone, as one of his main objectives is to arrive in optimal physical and mental condition.
Upon landing, he was received with honors by Turki Al-Sheikh, who welcomed him with flowers and shared it on his social networks, highlighting the magnitude of the event and the respect the country has for the Mexican boxer.
This gesture reflects the importance Saudi Arabia has placed on positioning itself as a new epicenter of world boxing.
In the video shared by Al-Sheikh, a relaxed atmosphere can be seen where even the Saudi Arabian official tries to box in a comical tone with Canelo Álvarez, causing laughter among the team of the tapatío.
Who is William Scull?
William Scull, of Cuban origin and with an undefeated record to date (22-0), is a serious and technical opponent.
Although without the same media hype of Canelo Álvarez’s previous opponents, he comes in as interim IBF champion.
This makes it a necessary step for the Mexican to seek to reunify the 168-pound titles.
Saúl Canelo Álvarez is already in Saudi Arabia
QueOnnda.com
The fight will be broadcast on DAZN on PPV, with a strategic time slot that fits the American audience:
It will begin at 11 p.m. local Arabian time (4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET), to favor audiences in the U.S. and Mexico.
Million-dollar contract
Buzzy
The agreement between Canelo Álvarez and Saudi Arabia contemplates five fights (four in the Middle East and one in Las Vegas).
These fights are worth close to $400 million dollars, not including sponsorships and PPV revenues.
This contract makes Álvarez one of the highest paid athletes in the world in 2025.
Following the Scull fight, Canelo is planning a stellar fight in September against Terence Crawford in Las Vegas, which has already been called by experts as one of the most anticipated fights of the year.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
