Canelo Alvarez Makes a Shocking Move – Jake Paul Left Behind?
Canelo Alvarez Makes a Shocking Move – Jake Paul Left Behind?
Mexican boxing champion Canelo Alvarez has officially abandoned plans to fight Jake Paul in favor of signing a lucrative deal with Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia.
Four-Fight Deal with Riyadh Season
Canelo has agreed to a four-fight contract with Riyadh Season, as announced by Turki Alalshikh, head of Riyadh Season and the Saudi General Entertainment Authority. On social media, Alalshikh emphasized the significance of the deal, stating: “Don’t play with the lion”, hinting at Canelo’s dominance in the boxing world.
Shortly after, Alvarez responded quickly, saying: “Let’s go, my friend.”
His first fight under the new contract is set to take place in May in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while the second bout is expected to be against Terence Crawford, the long-time welterweight champion.
Terence Crawford Challenges Canelo
Following the announcement, Terence Crawford immediately called out Canelo for a showdown in September. “I’m waiting for Canelo in September, and I will shake the world at Riyadh Season!”, Crawford wrote on social media platform X.
According to Ring Magazine, the Canelo vs. Crawford fight is likely to take place in September in Las Vegas, at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Raiders.
Canelo Alvarez’s Strategic Move
Canelo reportedly used the possibility of a Jake Paul fight as leverage to secure a more substantial deal with Saudi Arabia.
The 34-year-old champion has built an illustrious career and is one of boxing’s top earners. Jake Paul, despite starting as a YouTube star, has gained significant attention in combat sports, having fought MMA fighters and even boxing legend Mike Tyson (58 years old).
However, instead of an entertainment-driven fight against Paul, Canelo has seemingly chosen to face elite competitors. If everything goes as planned, Canelo will have a massive showdown against Crawford later this year, where Crawford will have to move up two weight classes to challenge Canelo.
