The fallout from Thursday’s Eleventh-hour major, and apparently final, twist on a brief boxing roller coaster ride likely only is just starting.
Former YouTuber Jake Paul, who for the past few years has been arguably the most important name in boxing, reportedly was about to announce a blockbuster fight on Netflix against Canelo Alvarez – until a deal was announced between Alvarez and Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia.
Paul on Friday said Alvarez ducked a fight with him and insinuated that he acted just for money and ignored other variables. Those variables, Paul’s MVP Promotions said in a news release, would have included a fight vs. Paul for Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas.
MVP’s statement also suggested some reporting of Paul and Alvarez news has been lower than forthcoming when it comes to journalistic credibility.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, said Alvarez’s deal is for 4 fights. Alvarez, 34, is the present WBC and WBO super middleweight champion at 168 kilos. In his most up-to-date appearance this past September, Alvarez dominated Edgar Berlanga by unanimous decision to retain his titles.
Alvarez is predicted to box in Saudi Arabia in May in the primary fight on the deal, then fight super welterweight champion Terence Crawford in September at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
“Breaking news: Canelo Alvarez ducked me, Jake Paul, and is now an owned slave with no regard for the pride of the Mexican individuals who support him on US soil,” Paul posted on social media. “It’s not surprising when his whole profession he has done nothing for the game of boxing outside the ring.
“I’m the brand new face of boxing. You can not have the most important fight of 2025 without my name involved. When your whole events tank and lose money you’ll all realize who the king of the game is. 28 years old. Biggest fight in boxing history. My very own boss. Not owned. 5 years in. All of you felines need to see me fail, but God has other plans. It’s the era of fine. The era of the elephant. It’s the era of MVP. @mostvaluablepromotions”
MVP’s full statement on the Alvarez news:
“MVP was deep in negotiations for a blockbuster fight between Jake Paul and Canelo Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas, an enormous event for the Mexican, Puerto Rican and American fans, and it’s disappointing to see how the situation unfolded. MVP operates with integrity, transparency, and respect for the game, its athletes and the fans. Unfortunately, not everyone within the boxing world shares those values.
“This case is a reminder to not consider every little thing you read, especially when the present media environment is commonly controlled by those with hidden agendas, including promoters who’ve reporters on their payroll. We remain in energetic discussions with multiple high-profile opponents and are committed to delivering the most important fights, essentially the most exciting events, and to working with partners who share our values and our commitment to boxing and its fighters.
“Jake Paul isn’t going anywhere, and neither is MVP. We’ll proceed to disrupt boxing, on our terms.”
Remember to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to debate this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.
