Dana White has seen his fair share of fight promotions crumble at the eleventh hour. Just when it seemed like Jake Paul had secured the fight of his career against Canelo Alvarez, Saudi Arabia’s GEA (General Entertainment Authority) Chairman Turki Alalshikh swooped in and changed the game. Paul and Alvarez were reportedly finalizing a blockbuster bout for May 3 in Las Vegas.
The event was also expected to be streamed live on Netflix. Marking yet another bold move by the YouTuber-turned-boxer. But in the blink of an eye, Alalshikh sealed a four-fight deal with Alvarez, pulling him away from Paul and into Riyadh Season’s growing empire. The result? A furious Paul, a dismissive Alvarez, and an interesting response from the UFC head honcho!
Dana White reveals the “control” Saudi Arabia has on the sport of boxing after Jake Paul vs Canelo Alvarez debacle
At the UFC 312 post-fight press conference, Dana White was asked about the situation. The UFC boss, never one to hold back, seemed unimpressed by Paul’s complaints. When a reporter framed it as Alalshikh “stealing” Alvarez from Paul, White barely blinked. “With what? Who’s able to do?” he asked,
When the question was clarified, White’s response spoke volumes as he indicated Saudi Arabia holds all the cards in boxing right now. “They control the sport of boxing right now,” he said bluntly. “I don’t think it’s hard for them to steal anybody from anybody.” He didn’t claim to know the fine details of Alvarez’s deal, but he didn’t need to.
According to White, “I’m sure it’s not too hard to steal somebody away from them to Saudi. Totally different levels there.”
Dana White is asked his thoughts on Turki Alalshikh apparently stealing Canelo from Jake Paul. pic.twitter.com/XCTKJ3MsQD
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) February 9, 2025
It was a not-so-subtle reminder of where the power lies. The UFC may still be king in MMA, but boxing? That battlefield belongs to Riyadh. With Canelo Alvarez now locked into a four-fight deal, the landscape of the squared circle might be seeing a massive paradigm shift.
The next big event? A possible clash between Alvarez and Terence Crawford, which Alalshikh is already hyping as “the biggest fight in the history of boxing.”
So, where does this leave Jake Paul? The YouTuber-turned-fighter unleashed a scathing tirade on social media after learning the boxing superstar had bailed on their deal. ‘The Problem Child’ held nothing back as he exposed Alvarez’s negotiations, contracts and more!
Jake Paul goes off on an unfiltered rant against Alvarez for letting down “Mexican fans”
In a fiery Instagram video, Jake Paul pulled out what he claimed was a signed contract, featuring both his and Canelo Alvarez’s signatures. “Oh, Canelo, you p—. Time to expose him,” he declared.
According to Paul, the fight was a done deal. The contract was signed, the poster was ready, and the announcement was set for February 11. But then came the last-minute switch. Paul shared, “Claiming he’s not fighting Youtubers? Bullsh—. Look at the poster. We were announcing Tuesday, Feb. 11. Claiming he fights real fighters, but he fighting Crawford, a 135-pound fighter, and running from a real fighter like David Benavidez, you b—.”
Then came the personal jabs. Paul accused Canelo of being “money-hungry,” claiming he had sold out to Saudi Arabia’s deep pockets. He even brought the boxer’s family into the mix, recalling a conversation where Alvarez allegedly admitted his daughter was excited about a fight with Paul.
‘The Problem Child’ further stated, “You’re screwing over all your Mexican fans by doing your fights in Saudi. It just shows what type of person you are. And I promise you one thing Canelo: any fight that you do this year, mine will be bigger.”
But does his fury change the reality of boxing’s new power structure? Dana White’s words painted a clear picture—Saudi Arabia isn’t just hosting fights, they’re owning the game. Fighters follow the money, and right now, the biggest paychecks are written in Riyadh. What do you think about Canelo Alvarez’s decision to sign with Turki Alalshikh? Let us know in the comments below!
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