In one of the most uneventful boxing matches of 2025, Canelo Alvarez defeated William Scull by unanimous decision on May 3 in Saudi Arabia. While the judges’ scorecards — 115-113, 116-112, and 119-109 — clearly favored the Mexican superstar, Scull remains adamant that he should have walked away victorious.
Speaking to FightHubTV shortly after the bout, Scull voiced his frustration over the judges’ decision, pointing to his higher activity and superior ring control as reasons why he believed he had done enough to win.
“Yes, I totally felt like I had won. After the fifth round, I was already winning the fight,” Scull said. “That’s why I kept up the work I was doing, because honestly, if he’s not hitting me, why would I risk it?”
A Historic Low in Action
The bout will go down in boxing history, but not for the right reasons. According to CompuBox, the 12-round contest saw only 445 punches thrown between the two fighters — a new record for the fewest punches ever recorded in a 12-round fight tracked by the system in its 40-year history. Scull accounted for 293 of those, while Canelo managed just 152.
Despite this, all three judges gave the nod to Alvarez, citing cleaner shots and better control in key rounds. For Scull, however, the statistics tell a different story.
“Canelo deserves my respect, but he threw less than me, and was less effective,” Scull added. “The Cuban principle is like that: hit and don’t let them hit you. Everyone knows our school of thought.”
Support From Amir Khan
Former world champion Amir Khan echoed Scull’s sentiments. In an interview with BoxNation, Khan revealed he had scored the fight in favor of the Cuban challenger.
“I had Scull winning that fight, he was the better mover, he boxed well,” Khan said. “If you’re looking at who was landing the better shots, it was Scull with the cleaner shots and with power.”
Khan, who famously fought Canelo in 2016, acknowledged that while the official decision will stand, the performance from Scull deserved more credit than it received.
Backlash From Boxing Officials
Not everyone shared Khan’s perspective. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman labeled Scull’s performance “terrible,” accusing him of avoiding engagement and “running” throughout the fight.
That criticism hasn’t deterred Scull. Even in defeat, the Cuban maintains that his approach was strategic — prioritizing movement and efficiency over outright aggression.
Looking Ahead
Despite losing his undefeated record, William Scull’s self-belief hasn’t wavered. Whether or not fans or officials agree with his assessment, his bold claim has reignited debates about scoring criteria, ring generalship, and what truly defines a winning performance in modern boxing.
For now, Canelo Alvarez retains his undisputed super-middleweight crown, but the controversy surrounding the decision ensures that this fight will remain a hot topic in boxing circles for weeks to com