On May 3, one of the most high-profile boxing nights of 2025 will take place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia – the Fatal Fury tournament, organized as part of the Riyadh Season project.
In the main event, undisputed super middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (62-2-2) will face undefeated William Scull (23-0). One of the co-main attractions will be a title bout between Armenian boxer Noel Mikaelian (27-2, 12 KOs) and Sweden’s Badou Jack (28-3-3, 17 KOs) for the WBC World Cruiserweight belt.
Mikaelian Returns to the Title Fight
34-year-old Norair (Noel) Mikaelian received the opportunity to fight for the title just three weeks ahead of the event, stepping in on short notice. Notably, he previously claimed the WBC title in November 2023 by knocking out Ilunga Makabu but was later stripped of the belt due to the absence of a mandatory defense. In a twist of fate, Mikaelian now fights again for that very title – against the man who once vacated it.
Badou Jack, the former WBC cruiserweight champion, returns to title contention after a one-year hiatus. Their clash promises fireworks, as two seasoned fighters with distinct styles and backgrounds face off.
"I'm very grateful for this opportunity. Yes, the notice was short, but I’ll be ready. I’ll have to rush a bit, but that’s okay. I accept the challenge and I’m ready to step in the ring," Mikaelian told The Ring magazine in a pre-fight interview.
Full Card for Fatal Fury Tournament
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Saul Alvarez (62-2-2) vs William Scull (23-0) – fight for the undisputed super middleweight title (WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF)
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Badou Jack (28-3-3) vs Noel Mikaelian (27-2) – WBC Cruiserweight World Title Fight
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Jaime Munguia (44-2) vs Bruno Surace (26-0-2) – Super Middleweight (Rematch)
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Martin Bakole (21-2) vs Efe Ajagba (21-1) – Heavyweight
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Marco Verde (0-0) vs Michel Polina (4-5-3) – debut of the Mexican Olympic medalist
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Bryan Leon (6-0) vs Aaron Guerrero (11-3-1) – Middleweight
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Mohammed Alaqel (3-0) vs Alexander Morales (6-13-5)
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Richard Riakporhe (17-1) vs Kevin Espindola (9-9)
Start Time and Broadcast Info
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Venue: ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Broadcast start: May 3 at 18:00 GMT (21:00 Yerevan time)
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Canelo vs Scull ringwalk: Not before 22:00 GMT (01:00 Yerevan time)
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Watch on: DAZN PPV, price – $59.99
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Alternative: Live stream on our Telegram channel
Canelo and the Undisputed Title
In the main event, Saul Alvarez will try to reclaim the undisputed champion title after losing his IBF belt in the summer of 2024 for refusing to fight Scull. If victorious, Canelo will once again become the undisputed king of the division, with a potential mega-fight against Terence Crawford expected to follow.