Boxing enthusiasts have been urging for Jake Paul to face tougher opponents in the ring, and it seems he was making an effort to do so. However, after Paul and his team were reportedly “deep in negotiations” with current WBO, WBA, and WBC super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez, the champion ultimately chose to avoid the matchup. Eddie Hearn, Álvarez’s former promoter, indicated that a deal had been reached for the fight, but it has since fallen through.
Instead, Álvarez has signed a four-fight agreement with Riyadh Season to compete in Saudi Arabia. In a statement released on Friday, Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions noted that the fight was intended to take place in Las Vegas over the Cinco de Mayo weekend, which would have been a significant event for Mexican, Puerto Rican, and American fans.
“It’s disappointing to see how the situation unfolded. MVP operates with integrity, transparency, and respect for the sport, its athletes, and the fans. Unfortunately, not everyone in the boxing world shares those values,” the statement from MVP read.
Paul took to social media to express his perspective, stating, “Breaking news: Canelo Alvarez ducked me, Jake Paul, and is now an owned slave with no regard for the pride of the Mexican people who support him on US soil. It’s not surprising when his whole career he has done nothing for the sport of boxing outside the ring.”
He continued, “I’m the new face of boxing. You cannot have the biggest fight of 2025 without my name involved. When all of your events tank and lose money, you will all realize who the king of the sport is. At 28 years old, I’m set for the biggest fight in boxing history. I’m my own boss, not owned. After five years in the sport, all of you doubters want to see me fail, but God has other plans. It’s the era of good. The era of the elephant. It’s the era of MVP.”
Paul also hinted at a potential event in New York this July. Meanwhile, Álvarez is still scheduled to fight that weekend, with his opponent yet to be determined, and he has a title bout against Terence Crawford set for September 13.
Paul holds a professional record of 11-1, having recently defeated Mike Tyson, who has a record of 50-7, in November.
