Saul “Canelo” Alvarez reclaimed his position atop the 168-pound throne Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but it came with more yawns than fireworks. In a bout that will be remembered more for its lack of drama than any display of dominance, Alvarez earned a unanimous decision over William Scull to recapture the undisputed super-middleweight championship.

Despite the victory, the Mexican superstar was visibly frustrated throughout the 12-round chess match that never quite became a fight. Scull, undefeated before this bout, spent most of the evening in reverse, using lateral movement and clinches to nullify any offensive momentum from Alvarez. The Cuban’s evasive strategy left the crowd restless and the judges squinting to score rounds.

Alvarez, now 34, attempted to impose his trademark body assault, but was met with little opportunity. While he landed the heavier punches when given the chance, CompuBox numbers told the story: just 445 total punches thrown between the two — a historic low for a 12-round bout. The final tallies read 115-113, 116-112, and a wide 119-109, all in favour of Alvarez, who improves to 63-2-2.

Canelo was disappointed in the ring after the decision, clearly dissatisfied with the lack of engagement. His irritation matched that of the crowd, and even future opponent Terence Crawford, who was seen shaking his head ringside as he waited for something — anything — to happen.

But now, with business settled, the stage is set for a monumental clash: Canelo vs. Crawford, September 12 at the 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.  The matchup promises everything Canelo-Scull lacked — intensity, aggression, and legacy-defining stakes.

With the undisputed super-middleweight title now around his waist again and one of the sport’s pound-for-pound elites on deck, Alvarez has one more chance this fall to silence doubters and reignite his flame.