Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed king of super middleweight boxing, is at the center of controversy after signing a four-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh, head of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from Jake Paul, the YouTube star-turned-boxer, who claims that Alalshikh sabotaged a potential showdown between him and Canelo.
Paul alleges that a nine-figure offer and veiled threats deterred Canelo from facing him. The situation has ignited a heated debate in the boxing world, with critics accusing Canelo of prioritizing financial gain over sporting challenges. The controversy intensifies as Canelo prepares to face William Scull on May 3, ahead of a potential mega-fight with Terence Crawford.
The feud escalated during an episode of BS w/ Jake Paul, where Jake Paul interviewed David Benavidez, another boxer frustrated by Canelo’s apparent reluctance to face him. Benavidez expressed his frustration, arguing that a fight between him and Canelo “makes perfect sense.”
Paul, despite his well-documented differences with UFC president Dana White, praised the UFC’s philosophy of pitting the best against the best. He contrasted this with the current state of boxing, where Canelo has chosen to face a “random guy” like Scull instead of more challenging opponents in his own weight class.
Undisputed super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez of Mexico smiles toward the crowd at the ceremonial weigh-in at Toshiba Plaza on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Both Paul and Benavidez criticized Canelo’s decision to pursue a fight with Crawford, a boxer who would need to move up two weight divisions, rather than taking on top contenders in the super middleweight division.
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Paul accuses Alalshikh of sabotaging Canelo fight
“He’s throwing away the Mexican fans to go fight in Saudi Arabia for the paycheck, and that’s basically what happened. I can explain the situation with me,” Paul said. The self-proclaimed “Problem Child” claimed that an agreement with Canelo was close to being finalized, with a Letter of Intent (LOI) signed and a confidentiality agreement in place. However, according to Paul, Turki Alalshikh intervened, vehemently opposing the fight.
Alalshikh’s alleged threats to Canelo
Paul alleges that Alalshikh repeatedly called Canelo and his trainer, Eddie Reynoso, questioning their interest in the fight. He even claimed that Alalshikh threatened to cancel Canelo’s three-fight deal if he proceeded with the fight against Paul. “He had to threaten Canelo to pull his three-fight deal. ‘You’re not fighting Crawford. I’m not paying you any of this money,’ and he’s basically paying him over a hundred million dollars for this random a– fight in May,” Paul said.
Money or Legacy? Canelo’s decision under scrutiny
Paul’s revelations have raised serious questions about Canelo’s motivations. While the deal with Riyadh Season guarantees him a substantial payday, his decision to avoid a fight with Paul—which could have generated significant media attention and financial rewards—has drawn criticism. The boxing world is left wondering whether Canelo is prioritizing money over his legacy and the opportunity to face more meaningful challenges in his career.
