One of the most shocking sporting events in recent days has been the announcement of Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, recognized by many specialists such as the King of Professional Boxing today. The Mexican, whose record in the rented circuits is 62 wins, two losses and two draws, will be measured on May 3 to Cuban William Scull to unify the titles of the 168 -pound division.
In the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Antillean will expose its belt of the International Boxing Federation (FIB) in the Supermedian Division, and the heavers of the World Boxing Council (CMB), World Boxing Association (World Boxing Association ( AMB) and World Boxing Organization (WBO), which “Canelo” won in September 2022 against Gennady Golovkin and then has managed to retain four times.
For the Cuban it will be a golden opportunity to a very first level adversary, which will guarantee considerable economic awards regardless of the result of the fight. But who is William Scull and how did he reach a fight of so much transcendence?
Zorrilla, Kilometer zero
Zorrilla is a very small town east of Matanzas, very close to San Pedro de Mayabón and the provincial borders with Villa Clara and Cienfuegos. In this town lost of the Arabes, with less than 2000 inhabitants, William Scull was born in 1992 and there he also took his first steps in sport.
Like many Cuban children, he tried baseball and was very good, but overnight everything changed. Néstor Domínguez, a coach who was looking for new boys for his boxing team, broke into a ball where Scull was and convinced him to make the jump from diamonds to the quadrilaterals.
In his first evidence, despite never having put on gloves, the Yumurino defeated a struggle with more tour and laid the foundations of a triumphant race in the ring. He was only ten years old, but his potential was already seen and Dominguez did not hesitate to “steal him” for the provincial squad, in which he would have secured training, studies, accommodation and food.
Scull then climbed through the Cuban sports system, until competing in the main national scenarios, such as the Playa Girón tournament. In this event, for example, he managed to defeat the Olympic runner -up Carlos Banteaux in the 2014 edition, in which he also faced and lost against Emilio Correa, another silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing Games.
“In Cuba I fought for the flag, for being the best figure in the country. In Cuba I fought against Emilio Correa, Carlos Banteux and many champions, ”he recalled in a recent interview With colleague Jorge Ebro.
Despite his skills, the Matancero did not have the experience of his patio rivals in the 75 kilograms division and failed to win the place in the Cuba team to any of the main international competitions.
The jump to professionalism
Before turning the 24 years, William Scull’s economic situation was not the best. Without too many options to lift himself as the main figure of the national team, he left Cuba by legal means and settled in Argentina, where he had the opportunity to work with caliber boxers such as Lucas Matthysse, Omar Narváez and Sergio “Maravilla” Martínez. There he grew little by little, until the first offers for professional billboards arrived.
On Argentine soil, he debuted in November 2016 against Gastón Avalos, whom he knocked out early for his victorious premiere in rented circuits. Then he played another eight fights in the South American nation, all skipped with victories about Victor Exner, Gustavo Benítez, Carlos Moyano, Emiliano Vivas, Christian Ríos, Miguel Gorosito, Martín Ríos and José Luis Yana. Of these clashes, two managed to finish them by fast track.
In November 2018 he lived his first fight in Europe against Ivan Sakic, whom he also liquidated before the limit in Germany. Precisely, in Teuton lands he developed most of its billboards until last year, with the exception of two presentations in Argentina and another in the United States.
His professional record in this period of eight years is 23 victories (nine per knockby) without defeats. His most important triumphs in the Supermedian category have been the following:
* July 20, 2019 vs. Sebastian Papeschi to win the South American title
* February 27, 2021 vs. Gino Kanters to win the vacant title of the International Boxing Organization
* May 28, 2021 vs. Dragan Lepei to retain the title of the International Boxing Organization
* November 26, 2021 vs. Denb Díaz to win the Latin title vacant from the International Boxing Federation
* October 19, 2024 vs. Vladimir Shishkin to win the vacancy title of the International Boxing Federation
“Canelo”, the opportunity of his life
Since last year the name of William Scull sounded to face Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez. In fact, FIB appointed the mandatory challenging Cuban, but the Mexican did not accept the challenge and decided to fight with Edgar Berlanga, even though that implied The end of your reign undisputed in the 168 pounds.
After this decision, Scull then had the opportunity to fight for the FIB Vacant crown in the supermedian division and did not miss it. In October 2024, in Falkensee, Germany, he dispatched the Russian Vladimir Shishkin by unanimous decision of the judges and was waiting for his name to be linked to “Canelo”.
After rumors and a tense wait, the long -awaited duel for the Cuban was announced just over a week ago: “When they confirmed the news I could not sleep anymore. They built me at six in the morning and I couldn’t sleep anymore. It was something we were waiting for after so many years. At the moment many things come to the head of everything you happened and what you have achieved. It has been a shock and I’m still recovering, but I’m already concentrating. ”
His words a The new herald They prove the importance of the duel that will live in May against the Mexican legend, which will guarantee a good loot regardless of the result. However, for Scull the most important thing is to continue growing and leave a triumphal legacy: “I will fight against the best boxer in the world. The bag is obvious that I need it for me and my family. I sacrifice for that. But I don’t look so at the bag. I want to win the fight, give a great war. So that they see that William Scull could always. After that fight I want all the belts. I want to continue making history. ”
