Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has paved the way for a super-fight against Terence Crawford after signing a multi-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh, despite a sensational clash with Jake Paul being under consideration.
The deal is for four fights, with the first set for Saudi Arabia in May and including a September showdown with Terence Crawford, potentially in Las Vegas.
“Canelo in Riyadh in May. The big fight [against Crawford] in September then two more fights in ’26. Don’t mess with the lion,” Alalshikh, who heads Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, said in a social media post.
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Alvarez posted: “Let’s go brother.”
Canelo had appeared to be actively considering meeting social media influencer turned fighter Paul in a boxing event. Paul fuelled that expectation when he posted: “A-Side in every fight I’ve been in and that’s not changing for this one.”
Alvarez dropped Edgar Berlanga early in their fight.(Photo: Rey Del Rio/Premier Boxing Champions)
It later emerged that talks for Canelo boxing Paul in Las Vegas in May had reached an advanced stage before being discontinued.
Paul’s company MVP Promotions issued a statement saying: “MVP was deep in negotiations for a blockbuster fight between Jake Paul and Canelo Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas, a massive event for the Mexican, Puerto Rican and American fans, and it’s disappointing to see how the situation unfolded. MVP operates with integrity, transparency, and respect for the sport, its athletes, and the fans.
“We remain in active discussions with multiple high-profile opponents and are committed to delivering the biggest fights, the most exciting events, and to working with partners who share our values and our commitment to boxing and its fighters.
“Jake Paul isn’t going anywhere, and neither is MVP. We’ll continue to disrupt boxing, on our terms.”
Paul vented his frustration on social media: “Canelo Alvarez ducked me,” he claimed in a post.
“I’m the new face of boxing. You cannot have the biggest fight of 2025 without my name involved. When all of your events tank and lose money you will all realise who the king of the sport is.”
Paul is a licenced professional boxer but he has never fought at championship level. He lost an eight-round split decision to Tommy Fury, the brother of Tyson Fury, as well as boxing MMA fighters, like Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.
