William Scull Returns After Canelo Defeat With Questions

The fight comes eight months after Scull’s unification defeat to Saul Canelo Alvarez in Riyadh. On paper, it was a routine unanimous decision loss. In practice, it became one of the most criticised major events of 2025. Scull’s cautious, movement-heavy approach produced low engagement, low output, and loud backlash.

The scorecards grew wider as the fight went on, and the response afterward was largely critical. The loss also affected Scull beyond the title itself.. The bout reshaped how he is perceived.

Once an unbeaten technician who had navigated his way to a vacant IBF title with a measured win over Vladimir Shishkin in Germany, he is now framed by many as a fighter who failed a moment when ambition finally met exposure. His post-fight claim that he deserved the decision only sharpened the divide.

The return opponent is not incidental. Bank enters undefeated and fresh off a knockout of former titleholder Tyron Zeuge. He is ranked by the WBO and WBC, active, and fighting at home. The setting removes any ambiguity about intent. This is not a soft reset. It is a test designed to force clarity.

What remains unresolved is how Scull chooses to fight. The defensive style that once carried him to the top of the IBF ladder now carries baggage. Another low-output performance risks confirming the harshest narratives. A more assertive showing carries risk of its own, especially against a younger opponent with momentum.

Scull has said the loss made him stronger and more focused. January will show whether that focus translates into adjustment or simply persistence. At this stage, the fight is less about titles than about direction. The result will not restore what was lost in Riyadh. It will determine what is still available.