It has been a wild week in boxing news, especially regarding the next moves of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. First, reports emerged that Alvarez was to face Terence Crawford in a September mega-fight. Then, a second report emerged stating that Alvarez would first meet influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul in May.

The Crawford fight reportedly collapsed shortly after news of Alvarez’s negotiations with Paul. Now, the not-yet-signed Paul fight has been scrapped entirely with the Crawford fight reportedly back on the table as part of a four-fight deal between Alvarez and Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season.

“Canelo in Riyadh in May,” Turki Alalshikh said in a video posted on X. “The biggest fight in the history of boxing in September. Then two more fights in ‘26. Don’t mess with the lion.”

Translation: “Canelo in Riyadh in May. The biggest fight in the history of boxing is in September. Then there will be two more fights in ‘26. Don’t mess with the lion.”

This significant matchup would appear to be Alvarez vs. Crawford, a fight that Alalshikh has long sought to arrange but which Alvarez has previously resisted. While not the biggest in boxing history, pitting two elite pound-for-pound fighters against each other would generate considerable interest, even considering that Crawford would need to jump two weight classes to meet unified champion Alvarez at super middleweight.

Paul has challenged Alvarez for years, claiming he’s poised to take on the toughest tasks in the sport despite contrary evidence. Facing Alvarez post a cautious decision over nearly 60-year-old Mike Tyson was indeed a tall order.

Potentially used as a bargaining chip by Alvarez’s team to gain leverage against Alalshikh, Paul responded with a bombshell statement.

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 U.S. soil. It’s not surprising as his whole career he has done nothing for boxing outside the ring. I’m the new face of boxing. You cannot have the biggest fight of 2025 without my name involved. When all your events fail and lose money, you will all realize who the king of the sport is.

Subsequently, Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions issued a statement following the news that the deal had been pulled.

“MVP was deep in negotiations for a blockbuster fight between Jake Paul and Canelo Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas. Disappointing to see how the situation unfolded,” the statement noted. “MVP values integrity, transparency, and respect for the sport, its athletes, and fans. Unfortunately, not everyone in boxing shares those values.

“This situation is a reminder not to believe everything you read, especially as the media often reflects the agendas of those who control it, including promoters who pay reporters. We remain in talks with multiple top contenders and are dedicated to arranging the biggest fights for the sport’s future.”

“Jake Paul isn’t disappearing, nor is MVP. We’re going to keep shaking up boxing, on our terms.”