Mexican boxer Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez is used to breaking records, filling arenas, and carrying the weight of an entire country on his shoulders. But this time, the challenge is different. Not just another opponent, but an invisible rival harder to dodge than a left hook: time itself.
In an exclusive conversation with The Latin Times, Álvarez opens up about his upcoming fight against William Scull, scheduled for May 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Yet, what stands out is not only the Cuban opponent standing across the ring but the fact that Canelo, at 33 years old, is preparing to fight outside of the U.S. and Mexico for the first time, adapting to a radically different environment, while still carrying the pressure of being the face of Mexican boxing.
"It's not just about fighting, it's about adapting"
"The challenge is not just fighting in Arabia; it's about adapting physically and mentally," Álvarez says, relaxed but focused from his training camp in Nevada, right on the border with California. There, under the guidance of Eddy Reynoso, Canelo is entering what may be one of the most demanding camps of his career — and not just physically.
The bout, promoted as part of Saudi Arabia's ongoing effort to position itself as a major player in global boxing, comes with peculiar conditions. The main event will take place at 6:00 a.m. local time to fit prime-time TV slots for American audiences. This means Álvarez will have to perform when his body is usually resting.
"That will be new for me and everyone. It's not just about fighting early; it's about preparing your body and mind to deliver at your best in a different time zone and climate," he explains.
The belt he had to win back
Circumstances also mark this fight. Canelo lost the IBF super middleweight belt in 2024 when he opted not to face Scull during his mandatory defense, choosing instead another rival. Scull seized the vacant title after defeating Russia's Vladimir Shishkin. Now, Álvarez must face him again if he wants to be the undisputed champion.
"Scull is a strong, young, hungry fighter. He deserves this. He earned it," Álvarez says without excuses.
Yet, beyond Scull's power, the real fight seems to be the challenge of the unfamiliar—the desert, the early mornings, the jet lag.
A lonely road to Riyadh
Álvarez revealed that he plans to travel to Saudi Arabia three weeks before fight night, an unusual move even for elite fighters. "I will go early to adapt properly," he shares. "This time, it's different. I don't want distractions. I want to be at my best."
In an uncommon decision for Canelo, his wife and children won't be part of the camp until the fight week. This absence is a personal sacrifice for someone known for his close-knit family life.
"Of course, I'll miss them. But I know what I have to do. I've always known," he says, with a short but revealing smile.
The real opponent: the clock
Canelo's comments feel like the words of someone who is preparing for a physical battle and measuring time more consciously. He is no longer the young prospect with nothing to lose. He is now a global icon, a businessman, and a father.
"Sleep well, recover, eat well — that's all you do in camp," he says plainly. But the stakes seem higher than ever for Álvarez, whose career has been built on discipline.
As he enters his mid-30s, every decision counts. Every calorie, every extra hour of rest, every training session. And with Saudi Arabia offering no familiar comforts, the Canelo who will step into the ring will have faced not just Scull, but silence, isolation, and his thoughts for three long weeks.
"Boxing is boxing, anywhere"
Despite all the challenges, Álvarez's mindset remains anchored. "At the end of the day, boxing is boxing, whether it's in the U.S., Mexico, or Arabia. The important thing is to arrive prepared," he insists.
He says it as someone who knows that preparation no longer depends solely on sparring and running but also on adjusting to cultural and mental shifts. He knows that in Saudi Arabia, at 6 a.m., he won't just be fighting Scull; he'll be fighting jet lag, expectations, and the invisible pressure of representing Mexico under the morning sky of a foreign land.
But if Canelo has proven anything in his career, he never walks away from a fight — even when the opponent is time itself.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
