William Scull is pushing for a career-defining moment, as a purse bid for his mandatory title shot against Canelo Alvarez is set for June 6. The Ring has confirmed that this bid follows the breakdown of negotiations, which halted just nine days after the fight was ordered on May 13.
Failed Negotiations
AGON Sports & Events, Scull’s promoter, informed the IBF of the failed talks, prompting an immediate purse bid hearing. According to IBF rules, either party can call for a purse bid at any time during negotiations. The winning bid will be split 65-35 in favor of Alvarez, the defending champion.
Alvarez’s Mandatory Defense History
Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 knockouts), the Ring champion at 168 pounds, has yet to make a mandatory defense for the WBA or IBF titles. His notable defenses include a win over Callum Smith in December 2020 and an eleventh-round knockout of Caleb Plant in November 2021 to unify the division.
Impact on the Super Middleweight Division
Brooklyn’s Edgar Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) was recently named the WBA mandatory challenger, leading to speculation that he might face Alvarez next. However, the IBF’s ruling will determine if Scull gets his shot first. If Alvarez chooses not to fight Scull, he risks being stripped of the IBF title.
Future Prospects
The outcome of this purse bid will significantly impact Alvarez’s reign as a unified champion. Scull (22-0, 9 KOs) earned his mandatory status with a decisive win over Evgeny Shvedenko in July 2022. He recently secured an eight-round victory over Sean Hemphill on the undercard of Alvarez-Munguia, showcasing his readiness for a title shot.
Alvarez’s last experience with an IBF mandatory led to a major career shift when he was stripped of his middleweight title in 2019 after failing to defend against Sergiy Derevyanchenko. This incident contributed to his split with Golden Boy Promotions in 2020.
As the purse bid approaches, the super middleweight division awaits the outcome, which could redefine the championship landscape. Whether Alvarez will face Scull or another contender remains to be seen, but the decision will undoubtedly shape the future of 168-pound boxing.