Canelo Álvarez Prepares for Historic Fight in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Mexican boxing superstar Canelo Álvarez will compete against Cuban fighter William Scull on May 3, marking his first professional fight outside Mexico or the United States. The bout is set to determine the undisputed super middleweight champion.

Tickets for the event highlight a stark price difference between venues. In Las Vegas, the cheapest ticket starts around 7,000 pesos (approximately $350), while in Saudi Arabia, prices begin at just 400 pesos ($20) and reach up to 4,000 pesos ($203) for premium seating. The majority of tickets sold quickly, with only limited options remaining as fight night approaches.

The arena, ANB, which holds under 10,000 spectators, has seen strong interest from the Mexican community in Riyadh. Reports indicate about 900 Mexicans live in Saudi Arabia, and many plan to attend the fight despite it coinciding with the start of the workweek.

Canelo Álvarez, who holds titles from the WBC, WBA, and WBO at 168 pounds, aims to extend his record of 62 wins, including 39 knockouts, with this match. His opponent, Scull, boasts an undefeated record of 23 wins with 9 KOs, having recently earned the IBF title.

As the fight nears, Canelo remains the favorite in the betting market. The match will air via DAZN PPV, with the main card beginning at 5 p.m. CDMX (7 p.m. ET).