BOXING
Canelo Álvarez might relinquish his title over opponent standoff
The Mexican boxer’s reign as undisputed super middleweight champion could soon be over.
Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez has already claimed his spot as one of Mexico’s greatest boxers, with his recent achievements more than backing this claim. In November 2021, the Guadalajara native was crowned the undisputed super middleweight champion after defeating Caleb Plant.
Now, Álvarez is considering relinquishing his International Boxing Federation (IBF) title following an ultimatum to face the Cuban boxer William Scull, the mandatory challenger for the title. According to the rules, Álvarez is required to face Scull, who, despite being relatively unknown in the boxing world, boasts an impressive record of 22 wins and zero losses.
If Canelo refuses to fight the Cuban, he would automatically lose the IBF belt. However, as of now, Álvarez has not made any formal statement regarding his decision.
Meanwhile, the IBF is uncertain about Álvarez’s next move in determining his opponent, as the World Boxing Association (WBA) is also vying for Álvarez to face their mandatory contender: Edgar Berlanga.