We’re underway in Riyadh with the Fatal Fury Saturday edition event underway. Canelo Alvarez, the reigning Ring, WBC, IBF, and WBA champion, will put his titles on the line against WBO champion William Scull in the main event on Saturday night.
The card takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where it will already be Sunday morning, but this event kicks off in primetime in the United States and Mexico.
Keep refreshing for the latest results from the card. I’ll be following along with updates after each fight on the card.
Canelo-Scull UPDATES BEGIN HERE
Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull walkouts are happening…
- Badou Jack def. Norair Mikaeljan via majority decision (115-113×2, 114-114)
Round 12: That last round was razor thin–as was the entire fight. It could have gone either way. Mikaeljan landed some impressive power shots in the final 30 seconds, but prior to that, I would have given it to Jack. I’d give the last round and the fight to Jack, but I wouldn’t hate a draw. 115-113, Jack.
Round 11: Jack woke up a bit in 11th. His work in close while the exhausted Mikaeljan is looking for a rest was the difference in the penultimate round. The fight is in the balance. Jack, 105-104.
Round 10: That’s another round for Mikaeljan on my card. He looks tired, but he’s being efficient with his punches while Jack is smothering any potential good work he can produce. I have it even again after 10, 95-95.
Round 9: Every time I am prepared to call it for one of these guys, they show some life. Mikaeljan responded with a good effort despite still appearing a bit winded. He won this roundwith power shots. Jack, 86-85.
Round 8: Jack can take this fight over. Mikaeljan is tired. He’s telling his corner he’s gassed. If Jack puts the pressure on, he may be able to get the stoppage. Jack, 77-75.
Round 7: Jack may need to change his nickname from The Ripper to the Body Snatcher. sorry, that’s taken. my apologies, Mike McCallum. Still, Jack’s body work is getting it done the last two rounds. Jack, 67-66.
Round 6: Plot twist. Jack responds strong with some nasty power punches. He buckled Mikaeljan on a couple of occasions, but he showed a strong beard. This is a good fight trending toward an exciting finish. Even at 57-57.
Round 5: Mikaeljan is gaining some momentum. He appears to have gained Jack’s timing and he is beating him to the punch. This is a rugged fight and entertaining, though it is being fought at a slower pace. Mikaeljan, 48-47.
Round 4: Mikaeljan sent to a message: hey, I’m still here. He took this round with some heavy combinations that got Jack’s respect. Mikaeljan, 38-38.
Round 3: Jack landed some powerful 1-2 combinations to set the tone in the round. It’s a competitive scrap, but Jack may be set to push things to another level. 29-28, Jack.
Round 2: This was another quiet round, but Mikaeljan finished strong with a combination. Jack’s corner seemed to recognize it and chastised their fighter for allowing his opponent to gain confidence. We’re even after two. 19-19.
Round 1: Jack won a quiet round. He got Mikaeljan to fall for feints and hard motions. It wasn’t huge, but enough to get an advantage. Jack, 10-9
- Jaime Munguia def. Bruno Surace via unanimous decision (116-112, 117-111×2)
- Mazique Scorecard – 117-111
Munguia didn’t avenge his loss to Surace with a KO, but he did win a clear unanimous decision. Surace is a solid fighter, and he is better than most believed before he upset Munguia. However, I’m not convinced he can consistently compete with the best at middle or super middleweight.
Round 12 – Munguia ran away with this one for the back two-thirds of the fight. He rendered Surace mostly ineffective most of this fight. Munguia, 117-111.
Round 11 – Surace looks like a man who feels fortunate to have pulled off the upset of the year in 2024. Tonight, he is being beaten up with little resistance since the fourth or fifth round. Munguia, 107-102.
Round 10 – Surace is going to need another magical KO to pull this one out. Munguia is stalking him and doing enough work to the body to secure these rounds without much consequence. 97-93, Munguia.
Round 9 – A very defensively responsible Munguia showed up today. While he isn’t coming in like a wrecking ball destined to win by finish, he is doing what he needs to do to avenge a loss. He’s up three rounds on my card. 87-84, Munguia.
Round 8 – Munguia puts another round in the bank. Surace is the fighter who now looks tentative. Munguia didn’t do any real damage, but he was clearly the aggressor and should win the round. 77-75, Munguia.
Round 7 – Munguia is beginning to take over. Surace has to do something to get his opponent’s respect. Munguia’s body punching and pressure pushes him to another win on my scorecard. 67-66, Munguia.
Round 6 – This was Munguia’s best round of the fight. He stalked Surace, pounded to the body and could be on the cusp of taking control of the fight. We’re even on my card. 57-57
Round 5 – Munguia does a good job stalking Surace along the ropes. It would be great for him to throw more than one punch at a time. Still, Munguia took that round to keep Surace from moving too far away on my card. Surace 48-47
Round 4 – Surace is outboxing Munguia in space. And he’s doing a good job staying off the ropes. This first round was the best one for Surace since the first and I have him ahead a third of the way through. Surace 39-37
Round 3 – These are difficult to score. Munguia might have edged that one with a decent flurry at the end of the frame. He’s definitely more tentative after the KO loss, and it is making it difficult for anyone to create separation. Surace 29-28
Round 2 – That round was very close. I’d give it to Surace with a very slight edge. Admittedly, it could have gone either way. Keep an eye on the second frame as a potential swing round if this fight goes to the judges. Surace 20-18
Round 1 – Surace looks solid and committed to proving his upset win over Munguia was no fluke. I thought he outboxed Munguia in the first round. Surace 10-9
- Martin Bakole vs. Efe Ajagba (Draw, 96-94, 95-95×2)
- 95-95 Draw (Mazique Score)
Bakole and Ajagba put on an entertaining fight, and I believe the judges were on the money. This fight is the latest example as to why you cannot listen to the commentary to guide you when watching boxing. Watch the fight and score it yourself.
Round 10 – Ajagba ran to stay out of trouble. I believe it cost him the round and I have it as a draw. We’ll see.
Round 9 – Bakole is coming on down the stretch. He pushed Ajagba around in that round and is doing his best to secure the knockdown or knockout he needs. We’re headed to the final round and I have it as a close fight.
Round 8 – Ajagba got a little tired and he paid for it. Bakole caught up with him and made him pay on the ropes. For the last 50 seconds of the round, Bakole was in control and seemingly hurting Ajagba. That was enough to stop Ajagba’s streak of winning rounds.
Round 7 – Bakole started trying to apply the pressure he needs to win, but he is still having trouble locating Ajagba. This one is a little closer than the last two, but still an Ajagba round.
Round 6 – Ajagba’s fitness advantage may be taking over in this one. Bakole is visibly frustrated because he can’t get a bead on Ajagba. The result, another round for Ajagba behind his movement and jab.
Round 5 – Bakole inexplicably tried to turn himself into a speed and counter fighter in that round. That was a bad idea. He gave back the momentum he established in the fourth and was potshotted the entire round by Ajagba. Easily, this one went to Ajagba.
Round 4 – Heck of a round overall. Bakole marched forward and decided to make himself the bully. He walked Ajagba down, landed huge power shots and appeared to hurt Ajagba. However, like Bakole in the previous round, Ajagba came back in the last 30 seconds. Still, this was Bakole’s round.
Round 3 – Ajagba really took control in the third frame. His quickness and 1-2 combinations were consistently finding a home. However, Bakole came on late, but not enough to take the round back.
Round 2 – Bakole came back solidly in this frame. His jab was the predominant punch as he stood his ground
Round 1 – Ajagba controlled it with his jab and movement. In the latter seconds, he put his stamp on the round with a few power shots. 10-9, Ajagba
- Brayan Leon def. Aaron Rocha Guerrero via unanimous decision (60-54)
Thus far, Leon is the most impressive fighter who has taken the ring tonight. The Cuban fighter who is a part of Team Canelo battered a game, but overmatched Guerrero.
Leon’s head movement, punching accuracy and overall crispness really stands out. He is one to watch moving forward as he looks like a potential contender. The win pushed him to 7-0 and Guerrero was the first opponent to go the distance with him.
- Richard Riakporhe def. Kevin Espindola via TKO
Riakphore looked strong in his heavyweight debut. It’s amazing to think that this hulk of a human being once made cruiserweight. His physique looks like Frank Bruno up top, and perhaps like a slightly bigger lower base than what you see with Deontay Wilder.
He’s 35, so he needs to move fast, but Riakphore could position himself for a serious fight at heavyweight in the next year. Espindola was game, but body shots did him in as he didn’t come out for the fifth round after being dropped in the fourth.
- Marco Verde def. Michel Polina via first-round TKO
Verde made his pro debut with a splash. He eradicated Polina with a series of body shots that resulted in two knockdowns. Finally the referee stopped the fight with Polina taking a pounding in the corner.
Canelo told me Verde is the next face of Mexican bopxing. While Polina was clearly out of his league, Verde looked about as impressive as possible.
- Mohammed Alakel def. Alexander Morales via unanimous decision (60-54)
Alakel coasted through all six rounds. He’s clearly well above the level of his opponent.
The 20-year-old Riyadh native made it look easy in a fight clearly set up to be showcase for the homestanding fighter. He has a chance to become the face of Riyadh boxing.
- The stream is underway. The ramp for ring walks looks gorgeous.
Here is a look at the card that is on tap:
- Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull, for Alvarez’s WBC, WBO, and WBA super middleweight titles & Scull’s IBF super middleweight title
- (c) Badou Jack vs. Norair Mikaeljan – WBC cruiserweight title
- Jaime Munguia vs. Bruno Surace – super middleweights
- Martin Bakole vs. Efe Ajagba – heavyweights
The Fatal Fury boxing weekend began as a spectacle with little substance on Friday night. A much-hyped tripleheader in Times Square failed to deliver. I was there on the ground, and the atmosphere was buzzing for the made-for-TV event.
However, the three headliners fell short of delivering the performances many fans wanted to see. It’s possible I’m being a little too hard on Teofimo Lopez. He put on a pretty masterful performance in nearly shutting out Arnold Barboza in the first of the three featured fights.
Lopez was in excellent shape. He looked fast and sharp and capable of competing with any of the top fighters in his weight region. Unfortunately, his one-sided scrap was the highlight of the night. Devin Haney outpointed a slow and overly methodical Jose Ramirez in the sandwich bout that set a CompuBox low for fewest punches landed over a 12-round fight in 2025 with 110.
According to Bob Canobbio of CompuBox, “Haney (229) & Ramirez (274) combined to throw 503 punches. Fourth fewest in a 12-round fight in CompuBox history. Ironically, Haney (214) & Tyan Garcia (285) combined to throw 499 punches—third fewest in a 12-round fight in CompuBox’s 40-year history.”
Ryan Garcia and Rolly Romero followed, and both men should have entered the ring wearing “hold my beer” t-shirts rather than the beautiful garb they wore as they stepped out of the signature vehicles that transported them to the ring.
Romero upset Garcia, dropping him in the second with a powerful left hook. Unfortunately, we didn’t see much in the way of action after the second frame, as Garcia and Romero broke Haney and Ramirez’s record for timidity by throwing a combined 490 punches—the third fewest in CompuBox history for a 12-round fight.
Let’s see if Canelo and Scull can come to the rescue.
