By Norm Frauenheim
Canelo Álvarez, who has never fought anywhere outside of the Western Hemisphere, arrived in New York Thursday, the first step in a journey that will lead him to answer his first opening bell somewhere out of the Americas.
Canelo is not exactly going global. He’s already introduced himself to the world with world-class wealth generated by the rock-and-roll power in his combinations. That beat — beatdown — figures to continue in Saudi Arabia during the first weekend in May against somebody named William Scull, a Cuban with a belt, mostly anonymity and virtually no chance.
At least, the oddsmakers don’t give him one.
His chances at beating Canelo are at 30-to-1. Odds were better that somebody in the audience Thursday knew who Scull was when he arrived at Radio City Music Hall for the newser. Scull wore a red cap, glasses and no name tag. He could have used one. He could have been a tourist looking for a slice of pizza for all anybody knew. Come to think of it, a hungry tourist in New York might have as much of a chance at upsetting Canelo in Riyadh.
The stakes, after all, are huge in a brand new, four-fight Saudi deal that is supposed to begin with a tune-up, a set-up for a captivating September showdown, super-middleweight Canelo against all-time welterweight great and newly-minted junior-middleweight Terence Crawford at an NFL stadium.
Canelo, a careful pro in the ring and on the stage, didn’t want to talk about Crawford when asked if the Scull fight could risk the projected biggie.
“We don’t have a fight in September,’’ Canelo said during the live-stream. “There is only this fight. Then, we will see.’’
It didn’t take long for Saudi Prince Turki Alalshikh to remind Canelo of the real reason he signed him to a contract in a furious 11th-hour deal last month.
September 12, Alalshikh said, offering a specific date for Canelo-Crawford on a Friday night at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders home field. Alalshikh told Canelo that he forgot to mention one item: The International Boxing Federation 168-pound belt, stripped from Canelo and then won by Scull in a unanimous decision over Vladimir Shiskin for the then vacant belt last October in Germany.
“I got you, don’t worry,’’ Canelo said, relaxed and smiling, said to Alalshikh.
It was a comment from a fighter in control, a sign that he also expects to be in control and undisputed all over again in May.
“He has only one belt, and that’s mine, too,’’ Canelo said of Scull.
Through an interpreter, Scull acknowledged he’s in a tough spot. He’s the designated fall guy in a bout that Alalshikh is confident will set the stage for a huge money-maker in September.
“This is just how boxing is sometimes,’’ said Scull, who lives in Berlin.
But, Scull continued through an interpreter, “I’m going to shut up everybody. You’ll see.’’
For Scull, the newser on a New York stage was often awkward. He had never been there. The crowd grew restless when it couldn’t hear him in the early moments. Please, speak into the microphone, Canelo told him. It was Canelo’s show.
The Mexican, still boxing’s pay-per-view star, did say that Scull’s Cuban pedigree could present some problems. Before his move to Germany, Scull learned how to box in the slick Cuban style, which has won a lot of Olympic medals but frustrates fans and opponents on the professional level.
“It’s going to be difficult, because the Cuban style always is,’’ Canelo said. “He has a lot of skills, but there is nobody else, no other Canelo, out there.’’
Canelo’s experience with Cuban fighters is perhaps defined by a difficult night against Erislandy Lara at junior-middleweight in July 2014 in Vegas. Canelo escaped with a controversial split-decision. Lara landed more punches (107, connecting at 28 percent) than Canelo (97, connecting at 23 percent.)
The argument is that Canelo’s shots were more effective. Whatever you believe, the fight itself was a dud. The styles simply didn’t mix well enough to produce a fan-friendly fight. It’s safe to say Alalshikh is urging for more. He was talking about a belt when he mentioned “an item.’’ But the genuine item might be a knockout. Canelo hasn’t scored one since 2021.
Maybe, Canelo, now 34, discovers some of his youthful power in his first fight in a different hemisphere. He concedes the atmosphere will be different. There’s talk that the fight will take place in the morning of May 3 in Riyadh. That way, Canelo’s Mexican fans have a better chance to see the PPV bout on a Cinco de May weekend, one of Canelo’s traditional dates.
“Different for me, for sure,’’ Canelo said.
But, he continued, he felt “most assured that the whole world is Canelo territory.’’
Alalshikh is betting on it.
