Canelo Alvarez and William Scull have etched their names into the CompuBox record books for an unenviable reason: their recent 12-round contest featured the lowest combined punch output in the system`s 40-year history.
Over the full 36 minutes of fighting, the two boxers delivered a total of just 445 punches combined. This remarkably low figure sets a new benchmark for inactivity in a championship-length bout monitored by the data provider.
The extreme lack of action meant that scoring was challenging for some judges. Nevertheless, Canelo ultimately secured a unanimous decision victory, with scorecards including a wide 119-109 tally in his favor.
Beyond just the number of punches thrown, the rate of punches that actually landed was also exceptionally low. On average, the fighters connected with only about five blows per round between them.
Breaking down the individual numbers, William Scull (whose record stands at 23-1 with 9 KOs) landed punches in the single digits in every one of the 12 rounds, totaling 103 for the fight. Canelo Alvarez (with a record of 63-2-2 and 39 KOs) only managed to land ten or more punches in the final round, finishing with a total of 152 landed shots. According to CompuBox data, Canelo`s total of 152 landed punches is the second-lowest recorded by an individual fighter in a 12-round bout.
Despite the subdued performance in terms of activity, Canelo`s victory allowed the 34-year-old to retain his undisputed super-middleweight championship. Crucially, the win confirmed the highly anticipated upcoming fight against Terence Crawford, scheduled for September 12th.
Scull`s approach throughout the fight was largely defensive and passive. His apparent unwillingness to engage significantly contributed to the overall low punch count and forced Canelo to work harder than usual to create offensive opportunities.
However, the nature of the fight, along with some of Canelo`s recent outings, has led some observers to question his current form and hasn`t entirely boosted confidence among his loyal fanbase. As a result, speculation is growing, with some now potentially favoring Terence Crawford, despite Crawford moving up in weight, for their highly anticipated clash at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
