The IBF has ordered undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) to begin negotiations with their No. 1 rated contender, William Scull (22-0, 9 KOs), who has held the rating within the IBF for two years.
Scull, a Cuban who resides in Germany, turned professional in 2016 in Argentina and has fought out of Germany since 2019.
The Cuban featured on the undercard to Canelo’s successful title defense against compatriot Jaime Munguia (43-1, 34 KOs) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, winning a comfortable, unanimous decision.
Scull fought Sean Hemphill (16-2, 10 KOs) over a scheduled eight-rounds, dropping the American in the fifth.
Agon Sports, which promotes Scull, confirmed that the IBF had instructed Canelo to fulfill his mandatory obligations and face Scull via a post on their social media platforms.
“The IBF has ordered the fight between Canelo and William Scull. Both teams have four weeks to reach an agreement, or it will go to purse bid,” the promotional entity posted on X and Instagram.
The IBF’s decision to enforce its mandatory obligations will frustrate fight fans who are clamoring to see Alvarez face fellow Mexican and rival David Benavidez.
Benavidez has opted to move up to light heavyweight after Canelo said it would take an offer between “$150-200 Million” for him to face his WBC mandatory challenger.
The undisputed title holder has yet to defend his mantle against an IBF-mandated opponent. The last time an IBF mandatory challenger challenged for the sanctioning body’s 168lbs title was in 2021, when Caleb Traux challenged then-titleholder Caleb Plant.
Canelo’s last mandatory obligation came in May 2023, when he faced the WBO’s challenger John Ryder in a homecoming clash in Guadalajara, Mexico.
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