The Turki Al-Sheikh/Canelo Alvarez era has arrived. With his first undisputed super-middleweight showdown under the Riyadh Season banner taking place tonight, the masses are wondering if there’s any chance that Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez can suffer defeat.
William Scull has a mammoth task ahead of him, but with WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF gold in the 168lb weight class up for grabs, could the Cuban pugilist shock the world during Cinco de Mayo celebrations?
Find out with my complete betting guide with an early preview of the Canelo vs. Scull main event clash for undisputed status, including updated boxing odds and our free expert betting picks, predictions, and analysis.
Our Top Betting Pick
- Canelo Alvarez By Decision (+140) at Bet365
Canelo vs. Scull: Battle of the Baddest
- When: Saturday, May 3, 2023 – 06:45 PM ET
- Where: ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Scheduled Bouts: 8
- Main Event: Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull
- Implied Probability: Canelo – 97%/Scull – 5.9%
Canelo vs. Scull: Tale of the Tape
| Saul Alvarez | William Schull | |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Age | 32 |
| 5’8” | Height | 5’11” |
| 70” | Reach | N/A |
| Mexico | Nationality | Cuba |
| 62-2-2 | Pro Record | 23-0-0 |
| 39 | Knockouts | 9 |
Canelo vs. Scull Preview: Cinco de Mayo Showdown
Canelo Alvarez
With every passing year and each globally anticipated fight that Canelo Alvarez participates in, concerns about how much he has left to give to the sport of boxing heighten. However, let’s not beat around the bush. The multi-division undisputed titleholder is one of the greatest to ever bless the ring, and William Scull is nothing more than a man holding onto Canelo’s IBF title.
When the IBF stripped Canelo of their title, Scull was the man who claimed the vacant strap. In turn, this removed Canelo’s undisputed status. Now he’ll be looking to reclaim what’s rightfully his by facing an unproven Cuban foe that’s never fought an opponent that’s even a smidgen of the Mexican’s talent.
I’m not here to diminish Canelo fans nor the hype of his return, but it’d be a cold day in hell before his debut fight in a five-fight deal for the rapidly growing Riyadh Season would place him in a compromising position.
What I’m trying to say is that this fight, Canelo vs. Scull, is nothing but a warm-up for the former, who’ll be using the latter not just to regain undisputed status but also to prepare for a much bigger fight down the line, most likely against Terrence ‘Bud’ Crawford.
Canelo Best Moneyline Odds: -3300 at Bet365
William Scull
We recently watched William ‘El Indomable’ Scull outpoint Vladimir Shishkin to collect the 168 IBF gold. It was an underwhelming performance, to say the least. Although he’s likely confident in his abilities with an unbeaten record and some fresh gold for the accomplishments list, his 23-fight professional career hasn’t seen him matched with a foe in the same elite realm as Canelo.
On that note, these factors that dismiss Scull’s chance of victory aren’t a secret. Just take a look at the current betting odds. Canelo can be found for as high as -5000 at some sportsbooks, thus leaving very little up to the imagination.
Scull Best Moneyline Odds: +1532 at Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)
The Sweet Science Breakdown
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “How on earth do we add some units to our bankroll with Canelo’s heavenly juiced moneyline?” Well, there is something to say about Canelo’s lack of finishing ability of late, as well as Scull’s granite chin, size advantages, and defensive positives.
Both fighters prefer to counterpunch, and with Canelo having gone the distance in six straight bouts since 2022, there’s a huge possibility that this fight will also need the judge’s intervention. Scull certainly has the footwork, speed, size, and untested chin to stay in the fight until the final round, and when you combine this with two counterpunching fighters, we might not get much more than a glorified sparring session.
Canelo Wins by Decision: The Best Bet Formula
Look, Canelo doesn’t need to take risks here. He’s the superior technician, and Scull won’t be prepared for what’s to come. Scull is unproven at this level, but he’s going to hold a significant height and reach advantage, and this will ultimately push Canelo to remain cautious and follow his trend of late, which involves sailing to a decision victory.
Unquestionably, Canelo walks out of Riyadh as the undisputed super-middleweight champion. Still, there’s more than enough evidence to believe that he’ll need to settle for a decision to do so. The available boxing odds have placed unplayable prices on the moneyline, so when you’re looking to make bank this weekend, just attack the prop market and Canelo to win by decision, which, surprisingly, gives us plus-money value!
Boxing Pick: Canelo Alvarez By Decision (+140) at Bet365 [1u to win 1.4u]
*21+ Seek help with a gambling addiction at 1-800-GAMBLER
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
