RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saul "Canelo" Alvarez became a two-time undisputed super-middleweight champion on his Riyadh debut Saturday night, but he immediately branded his victory a "boring fight."

The Mexican icon, The Ring Magazine champion, won a clear unanimous decision against William Scull to reclaim his IBF title and successfully defend the WBA, WBO and WBC titles. Next up: Terence Crawford on Sept. 12 in Las Vegas.

But this was not a performance to remember for Canelo, who spent much of the fight chasing shadows as Scull decided against engaging throughout.

As scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 119-109 were read out confirming his victory and status as two-time undisputed champion, Canelo barely even smiled.

“He just came to survive from the third round that’s why I don’t like it,” a downbeat Canelo said. “For me that’s a boring fight when a fighter doesn’t try to win, just tries to survive. I hate those kind of fighters.

“He moved even more than I thought he would. But it’s OK, we won. I’m a two-time undisputed champion and I’m proud to fight in Saudi Arabia.”

Most importantly, this victory paves the way for the September 12 megafight between Canelo and Terence Crawford at the Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas.

No sooner had Scull left the ring was Crawford ushered in for a face off with his next opponent. Canelo said: “Crawford is one of the best out there, I love to share the ring with this kind of fighter, It’s my pleasure. Everybody is asking for the fight and His Excellency Turki Al-Alshikh wants it so let’s do it.”

Canelo had strode purposefully toward the ring in the centre of ANB Arena, decked out in royal blue in a reminder of who the real king is at 168lbs.

Scull, who arrived in Saudi Arabia undefeated (23-0, 9 KOs), won the vacant IBF title via unanimous decision over Vladimir Shishkin in October. But that belt was only freed up because Canelo had opted to fight Edgar Berlanga instead of fulfilling his mandatory obligations with the IBF.

The Ring Magazine champion, however, still held the WBA, WBO and WBC belts, and this fight, his first in Riyadh, gave him the chance to become undisputed champion for the second time and made Scull the 21st world champion he has faced across 67 fights as a pro.

In a bid to satisfy the many Canelo fans watching in Mexico and America, this fight got underway just before 6:30 a.m. local time, but there were no signs of drowsiness among the partisan crowd.

Chants of "Canelo" erupted within seconds of the opening bell as the Guadalajara idol got to work. Midway through the opener, he missed with a big overhand right, an indication of his desire for an early finish that would never come. As Scull circled around the outside, Canelo stalked with bad intentions, but there was very little by way of meaningful exchanges in a feeling-out round for both.

The same pattern quickly emerged in the second round although Canelo did land a right hand while Scull briefly squared up on the ropes. The third also started much the same although Canelo thudded a lead hook into Scull’s midriff early on. Then, with a minute gone in the round, Scull landed with his right hand for the first time, but Canelo rode with the punch to take the heat off.

As the fourth began, Scull, in pursuit of one of the biggest upsets this century, would have been very happy with his start to the contest. He even took a moment to showboat as the round entered its final minute, leaning on the top rope with one hand and jabbing with the other.

It was evident that Scull was growing in confidence with every passing minute as Canelo, behind a high guard, tracked him round the ring but never really threw anything. After five rounds of the biggest fight of his life, Scull was comfortable.

Canelo, however, slowly but surely began to turn the screw in the sixth, landing a series of hard body shots whenever his opponent held his feet a fraction too long with his back to the ropes. But Scull was bolstered by his training camp at altitude in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Spain and appeared to have the requisite fitness levels to stay perennially on the move.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, he had absolutely no intention of standing and trading with Canelo. He instead danced around the perimeter, pausing only momentarily to throw. Most were blocked, but an uppercut, hook combination landed in the seventh.

Canelo was almost exclusively throwing singles, but midway through the eighth he switched a left hook to the body up to the chin. The action levels were so low that even referee Kieran McCann told them both to engage as another low-key round drew to a close. He also brought them together at the start of the ninth to hammer home his point before warning Canelo for a low blow a minute after the restart.

Despite the boos from the Mexicans in the crowd, incensed by Scull’s propensity to get on his bike, the Berlin-based Cuban refused to change tact as the rounds ticked by. Canelo, to his credit, continued to stalk although he was having even less success than in the early rounds.

As the 12th began, the crowd raised the volume as they attempted to inject some much-needed energy into the final three minutes. Still, Scull circled and still Canelo tried and failed to pin him down.

As the bell rang to end the fight the pair touched gloves and exchanged words in the middle of the ring. It was the longest they had spent within punching range of each other all morning during a fight that will not be troubling any highlight reels.