The boxing world was set abuzz when rumors surfaced about Jake Paul potentially facing Canelo Alvarez for the Cinco de Mayo weekend fight. It generated immense hype, with fans discussing the possibility of the YouTube star challenging one of the sport’s biggest names. But before anyone could truly process the excitement, the news came crashing down: the fight was officially off.
The announcement from the Ring Magazine hit like a bombshell. What went wrong? Why did the bout fall apart so quickly? The confusion surrounding the cancelation left many wondering about the true reasons behind the decision. Fortunately, ESPN’s Mike Coppinger took matters into his own hands by sitting down for an exclusive 30-minute interview with Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority chairman, Turki Alalshikh to get to the bottom of the situation.
For those unversed in newer happenings, soon after the fight with Jake Paul fell apart, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh confirmed a new 4-fight deal between his Riyadh Season and Canelo Alvarez. It seems the new deal was the very reason for Canelo to back out of the Jake Paul fight at the eleventh hour, leaving him high and dry.
Is fighting Jake Paul ‘beneath’ Canelo?
In the interview, when Coppinger asked Turki Alalshikh if he personally thought it would be “beneath” the unified Super Middleweight champion to “fight Jake Paul,” given the latter’s relatively unproven record in boxing, Alalshikh’s response was sharp and to the point.
“In my opinion, in this age, and in this time, we must have this kind of legend and fighters fight great and big fights,” he explained. Hinting at the canceled Jake Paul fight, Alalshikh believes that the 62-2 boxer fighting Terence Crawford would be a truer test of Canelo’s legacy than a fight with an 11-1 boxer. Why? “Because you know, he’s now in the mid of 30s,” while adding, “We don’t want to waste time.”
He explained that he felt Canelo Alvarez should take high-profile and financially rewarding fights with great opponents while he is still in his prime. Alalshikh’s words seemed to imply that a fight with ‘El Gallo’ was a distraction for Canelo Alvarez given his age and experience.
So, if a fight with Jake Paul was deemed a waste of time, who exactly should the Problem Child face next? Alalshikh has a name in mind. But it seems like Jake Paul is not going to like what Alalshikh has to say.
If not Canelo Alvarez, then who? Turki Alalshikh suggests a new name
Following the cancellation of the fight, Fight Hub TV shared an update. In the clip, Jake Paul claimed that he and Canelo Alvarez had a signed contract in place. He accused the Mexican boxing champion of backing out to instead secure a lucrative four-fight deal in Saudi Arabia. In an explosive online rant, Paul labeled Canelo as “money-hungry” and criticized him for avoiding real competition, such as David Benavidez, while choosing to fight Terence Crawford.
Paul’s frustration continued as he claimed that his fights generated more buzz and hype than any of the Mexican champion’s potential matchups for the year. He even suggested that the boxing community’s focus on the Alvarez fight was misplaced, arguing that his bouts were the true draw.
It might be this rant from the Problem Child that Turki Alalshikh could not let idly slide by. Alalshikh, in a tongue-in-cheek remark, suggested that Canelo Alvarez could maybe consider facing Jake Paul when he turns 60, in reference to the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul fight.
“I think Canelo is too young to take this fight. You can have it after 30 years, when [Canelo] is 60,” he stated in a pointed rebuke. So when Mike Coppinger referred to the Jake Paul-Canelo Alvarez fight as a “circus fight,” Alalshikh advised Paul to fight MrBeast instead. He fired off by suggesting, “Let them bring MrBeast(Jimmy Donaldson) and we can sanction it with Disney for the belt of YouTube. And everyone will subscribe and see it. Everyone will see it and for the YouTuber belt.”
Do you think Canelo Alvarez made the right decision to reject a fight with Jake Paul? How will Jake Paul bounce back from this missed opportunity? Will he face another top contender, or is he better suited for the spectacle and drama of viral entertainment?
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