After a boring 2024, the current year is shaping up to be a blockbuster for former undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. Earlier this month, The Ring sent shockwaves through the boxing world, confirming that the Mexican superstar and former undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford have finally reached an agreement to fight.
Riyadh Season is reportedly eyeing Allegiant Stadium—home of the Las Vegas Raiders—as the venue, with September being discussed as the likely date. Crawford will jump two weight classes to super middleweight for the biggest challenge of his career. Just as fans were processing this massive news, another bombshell dropped.
According to a February 4th report from Mexican journalist Julianis Julius, “There is already an agreement for Jake Paul to be Canelo Alvarez’s rival in May of this year, a source very close to the operation informs me.” He also revealed that the rumored fight would be co-promoted by Canelo Promotions, MVP, PBC.
May 3, 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA: Undisputed super middle weight champion SAUL CANELO ALVAREZ 60-2-2-39KOs of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico weighed in at 166.8 lbs while challenger JAIME MUNGUIA 43-0-34KOs of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico weighed 167.4 at the weigh-in for their main event boxing fight for the undisputed super middleweight title tomorrow night on PBC Prime at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Las Vegas USA – ZUMAo117 20240503_zsp_o117_049 Copyright: xMikaelxOnax
While there hasn’t been any official word on the matter, with Canelo fighting Crawford in September, his Cinco de Mayo (May) fight date was wide open. So, it’s not impossible to think Canelo may fight YouTube boxer Jake Paul. However, MMA journalist Ariel Helwani has some concerns about the fight, which can upend Canelo’s career.
While appearing in his latest episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, the journalist asked his panel members about the risk for Canelo in the fight. He added, “We’ve seen this. You take that [Jake Paul] fight first, you slip.” As outlandish as it sounds, Helwani is worried Paul may be able to beat Canelo Alvarez. He even roped in Deontay Wilder and Filip Hrgović to prove his point.
“They said they were going to do Deontay vs. AJ. They said they were going to do Hrgović vs. AJ. Hrgović loses to Dubois. Deontay Wilder lost to… Joseph Parker,” Helwani highlighted during his show. However, the question is, will this fight even happen?
After Canelo Alvarez vs. Jake Paul report, the latter makes a contradicting announcement
It’s no secret that Jake Paul is a genius when it comes to marketing. He recently teased a fight between him and his brother, Logan Paul, through social media. That turned out to be nothing but a reality TV show on Max about the brothers. Regardless, after the fight update from Julianis Julius, Paul has made a contradicting announcement.
It’s time
Sat July 5th
New York, New York
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) February 3, 2025
Recently on X, ‘The Problem Child’ wrote, “It’s time Sat July 5th New York, New York.” There are a number of things Paul’s vague post could mean. But given Canelo fights only in May, the July date from Paul doesn’t match with the timeline. And let’s say Canelo and Paul fight in July, that will leave Canelo less than two months to prepare for Crawford.
That said, it’s simply too soon to say whether the report about a potential fight between Canelo Alvarez and Jake Paul is real. Still, Helwani has brought up the risk factor for Canelo that comes along with fighting Jake Paul. Do you think Jake Paul poses a threat to Canelo?
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