The typical routine for Canelo Alvarez is to train in Southern California and fight in Las Vegas, and it's a formula that has helped him develop one of boxing's great careers.
Now at 34, Alvarez is showing he's willing to change his habits — a reported $400 million, minimum four-fight deal with Riyadh Season probably no small factor in that decision.
The first of those bouts takes place Sunday at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia against little-known William Scull for the undisputed super middleweight championship. The main event ringwalk begins at about 6 a.m. local time to accommodate the American and Mexican pay-per-view audiences.
“A lot of people talk about the time change, fighting at 6 a.m., but I think when you work somebody as disciplined as Canelo is, has that experience, he can adjust to any time of timetable," Alvarez's trainer and manager, Eddy Reynoso, said through an interpreter. "He could be fighting at 3, 4, even midnight, it doesn’t matter. He’s a champion. He’s shown that and he will go on to show that.”
Oddsmakers agree.
Alvarez (62-2-2) is an overwhelming -5000 favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook to get back the IBF title he lost after turning down a previous opportunity to fight Scull (23-0), who then was elevated to that organization's champion.
Now Alvarez wants that belt back, which would make him an undisputed champion for the second time.
“It means a lot because that’s history for my career," Alvarez said.
It's a fight Scull, who was born in Cuba but lives in Germany, wasn't expecting.
“But we’re always in training and you’re ready and you’re thinking about the possibility that something could come like this,” Scull said through an interpreter. "I have to thank Team Canelo for accepting this fight.”
He understands few expect him to beat Alvarez or even be competitive. BetMGM lists Canelo at -200 to win by knockout for the 40th time in his career even though his most recent KO occurred nearly four years ago.
Scull pointed to his history of leaving Cuba 23 years ago and fighting in 24 countries as proof of his resilliency.
“I’ve always faced different cultures, gone into fighting other opponents where people have underestimated me,” Scull said. "I thank God for this opportunity to go unify (the title). I don’t really care what people say. All I know is that I’m going into the fight to show that yes, you can.”
The soft-spoken Scull knows the opportunity that lies in front of him. He is grateful that at 32 a chance has finally come to make a name for himself beyond hard-core boxing fans.
To come closer to Canelo status.
Alvarez is here for business, and not just financial. He traveled to Riyadh three weeks ago to adjust to the time difference and the triple-digit temperature desert climate he's accustomed to dealing with in Las Vegas.
The Mexican champion and fan favorite called it a dream to fight in a different country, and he hoped to send a message he's there for more than just the money.
There was a little bit of trash talk at the end of the news conference promoting this fight, though it’s been tame by boxing standards.
“Everybody talks (stuff), but when they step in the ring, it's going to be something different," Alvarez said. "He's going to feel something different for sure, believe me. This is nothing new for me.”
AP boxing: https://apnews.com/boxing
FILE - Canelo Alvarez reacts before fighting Edgar Berlanga in a super middleweight title bout Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Six years into his Stuttgart career, Nikolas Nartey finally scored his first goal for the club to seal a thrilling 3-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on Tuesday.
The Danish midfielder found space between two defenders to direct Josha Vagnoman's low cross into the net and turned away, shouting in celebration.
Nartey had been with Stuttgart since 2019 but barely played for much of that time. He spent two years on loan before a series of injuries wreaked havoc on his career. He didn't play at all in 2023-24 and had little game time the following year but has become a regular starter this season.
Until Nartey's breakthrough, it had seemed like a first-time scorer of a different sort had salvaged a draw for Frankfurt.
Three minutes into his Bundesliga debut off the bench, new signing Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab made it 2-2 to finish off a rapid team move that began with goalkeeper Kaua Santos and went the length of the field. The 21-year-old forward had never before played above the third tier of German soccer.
Frankfurt took the early lead when Rasmus Kristensen scored in the fifth minute, but goals from Ermedin Demirovic and Deniz Undav put Stuttgart ahead 2-1 by halftime. Both teams had plenty of chances as Santos and Stuttgart's Alexander Nübel made crucial saves.
Stuttgart moves up to third with the win. Frankfurt is seventh, with one win from its last eight games in all competitions.
A day after Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac signaled that challenging Bayern for the title is out of his team's reach, Dortmund cut Bayern's lead to eight points with a straightforward 3-0 win over Werder Bremen.
Defender Nico Schlotterbeck headed second-place Dortmund in front in the 11th before Marcel Sabitzer and Serhou Guirassy scored to make sure of the win.
“That we can't attack Bayern, I think everyone can see that,” Kovac said Monday, adding his aim is a top-four finish.
Unbeaten Bayern, which beat Wolfsburg 8-1 last week, can restore an 11-point lead by beating Cologne on Wednesday.
Mainz beat fellow relegation candidate Heidenheim 2-1 for its first Bundesliga win since September. New Mainz coach Urs Fischer is unbeaten in six Bundesliga and Conference League games since he was hired last month. Mainz moves up from last place in the 18-team league to 16th, dropping Heidenheim to last.
Bayer Leverkusen's game at Hamburger SV was postponed at short notice over concerns around the stadium's roof. It's the third game in the Bundesliga to be called off in recent days following heavy snow in northern Germany.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Mainz's Nadiem Amiri celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 andFC Heidenheim in Mainz, Germany, Tuesday Jan. 13, 2026. (Torsten Silz/dpa via AP)
Dortmund's Serhou Guirassy, second right, celebrates with teammates after scoring the third goal against Werder Bremen during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in Dortmund, Germany, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Stuttgart players celebrate with their fans after the Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt in Stuttgart, Germany, Tuesday Jan. 13, 2026. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)
Frankfurt's Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab celebrates scoring with Arthur Theate, left, and Robin Koch, right, during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt in Stuttgart, Germany, Tuesday Jan. 13, 2026. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)
Stuttgart's Nikolas Nartey, front, and Frankfurt Aurèle Amenda in action during the Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt in Stuttgart, Germany, Tuesday Jan. 13, 2026. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)
