The IBF has ordered undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) to begin negotiations with their No. 1 rated contender, William Scull (22-0, 9 KOs). Scull has held the rating within the IBF for two years.
Canelo Alvarez has been ordered to next face an unbeaten mandatory challenger—just not the one everyone expected.
My latest for @ringmagazine: ???????? https://t.co/AfZ8E1rnvr— Jake Donovan (@JakeNDaBox) May 14, 2024
Challenger ready for a tall task
Scull, a Cuban who resides in Germany, turned professional in 2016 in Argentina and has fought out of Germany since 2019.
The Cuban featured on the undercard to Canelo’s successful title defense against compatriot Jaime Munguia (43-1, 34 KOs) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, winning a comfortable, unanimous decision.
Agon Sports, which promotes Scull, confirmed that the IBF had instructed Canelo to fulfill his mandatory obligations and face Scull via a post on their social media platforms.
undisputed title holder has yet to defend his mantle against an IBF-mandated opponent. The last time an IBF mandatory challenger challenged for the sanctioning body’s 168lbs title was in 2021, when Caleb Traux challenged then-titleholder Caleb Plant.
Canelo’s last mandatory obligation came in May 2023. When he faced the WBO’s challenger John Ryder in a homecoming clash in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The majority of fight fans would have preferred David Benavidez getting the nod. But Benavidez went up in weight to fight at light heavyweight. Undoubtedly Canelo has been collecting some easy wins of late. He can very well defend his belt against a guy who most people don’t even know exists.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
