Canelo Alvarez Shakes Up Boxing Landscape With Saudi Deal, Scraps Jake Paul Fight for Terence Crawford Showdown

In a stunning reversal that upends boxing’s 2025 schedule, Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has abandoned a heavily rumored bout against Jake Paul to instead sign a four-fight partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season—a deal culminating in a September superfight against pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs). The move, orchestrated by Saudi chairman Turki Alalshikh, cancels Alvarez’s planned May 3 cruiserweight clash with Paul and shifts boxing’s center of gravity toward the Middle East.

Canelo is not fighting Jake Paul 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/Jq4GAEbAvE

— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) February 7, 2025

Riyadh’s Power Play

Alalshikh, architect of Saudi Arabia’s boxing takeover, announced Thursday that Alvarez will first fight an unnamed opponent in Saudi Arabia this May before facing Crawford on September 14 at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium. The latter bout—labeled “the biggest fight in boxing history” by Alalshikh—marks a dramatic weight leap for Crawford, who has never competed above 154 pounds. Alvarez, boxing’s reigning WBC/WBO super middleweight champion, has held titles from 154 to 175 pounds.

🚨 Turki Alalshikh just announced Canelo Alvarez has signed a 4-fight deal which INCLUDES the Terence Crawford bout in September

Looks like no more Jake Paul 👀 pic.twitter.com/Z6i8WxIc5m

— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) February 7, 2025

The Saudi deal effectively hijacks a near-finalized Alvarez-Paul matchup reported by ESPN to be on the “1-yard line” for May 3 at T-Mobile Arena. That fight, targeting Paul’s cruiserweight division (200-pound limit), would have streamed on Netflix as part of Paul’s influencer-to-boxer transition. Alvarez instead opts for legacy over spectacle, trading a novelty bout for a high-risk duel with Crawford, a four-division champion fresh off a 153-pound title win over Israil Madrimov[1].

The Crawford Conundrum

At stake in September is Alvarez’s 168-pound supremacy against Crawford’s quest for a fifth weight-class crown.

Crawford, 37, must jump 15 pounds to challenge Alvarez—a gap only partially mitigated by the fight’s contracted catchweight, yet undisclosed. Alvarez, 34, last fought at 168 pounds in September 2024, dominating Edgar Berlanga over 12 rounds[1].

Paul Left at the Altar

Paul (9-1, 6 KOs), who campaigned relentlessly for the Alvarez fight, has not commented since the Saudi announcement. The YouTuber-turned-boxer previously called a Canelo matchup “my Super Bowl,” but critics questioned the legitimacy of pairing a 168-pound kingpin with a fighter whose biggest win came against 40-year-old Nate Diaz. ESPN’s initial report noted the Alvarez-Paul bout was slated for a 180-pound catchweight, far below Alvarez’s natural class.

Alalshikh’s intervention continues Saudi Arabia’s boxing dominance following high-profile wins for Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Cristiano Ronaldo-hosted “Riyadh Season” events. The Alvarez-Crawford pact mirrors 2024’s Saudi-brokered Fury vs. Usyk undisputed heavyweight clash, further positioning the kingdom as boxing’s financial epicenter.

For Alvarez, the deal offers a career-defining challenge: defeating an undefeated, smaller-but-technically-elite foe. For Crawford, it’s a chance to cement his P4P reign by conquering a fourth weight class. And for boxing? A reminder that while influencer fights draw clicks, legacy still sells—especially when backed by Saudi ambition.