Mexican boxing star Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has agreed a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season, ending speculation he was set for an exhibition bout with Jake Paul, the influencer turned fighter.
Alvarez, 34, has been the sport's biggest draw for many years but is yet to fight on a Saudi-backed card.
Rumours persisted throughout the week that a bout between Alvarez and Paul on the streaming platform Netflix was all but done, and that the Mexican great was turning his back on a big money offer from Saudi Arabia.
However, early on Friday morning, Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and the power broker behind Saudi prizefighting, announced through his social media channels that he had concluded a deal with Alvarez.
Alalshikh is determined to make a fight between Canelo and the American multi-weight champion Terence Crawford this September.
The Ring magazine, owned by Alalshikh, reported that Alvarez will fight in Riyadh in May before facing Crawford in Las Vegas in September – most likely at the Raiders' Allegiant Stadium on September 13 to coincide with Mexican Independence Day weekend – and then return to the Saudi capital for two further bouts in February and October of 2026.
“Canelo in Riyadh in May, then the biggest fight in the history of boxing [against Crawford] in September, and then two more in 2026,” said Alalshikh in a video posted to X and Instagram.
Responding to the post by Alalshikh, Alvarez said: “Let's go brother.” Crawford was also quick to reply, posting: “I’m waiting on Canelo in September and going to shock the world in Riyadh Season!”
Alvarez would have been an overwhelming favourite to beat Paul, the YouTube star who has turned himself into one of the biggest draws in combat sports while fighting mixed martial artists and, most recently, the 58-year-old Mike Tyson.
Instead, Alvarez appears to be back on track for a meeting with Crawford, who will have to move up two weight classes. Alvarez last fought in September in Las Vegas, easily outpointing Edgar Berlanga to improve to 62-2-2. He has 39 knockouts.
Five potential opponents for Canelo Alvarez
With Canelo now in line for money-spinning Saudi-backed fights, every contender from 160-175 pounds and beyond will be hoping for the call. Below are five possible opponents for the 34-year-old champion.
Terence Crawford
This one appears to be a lock for September in Las Vegas with the American pound-for-pound great stepping up to challenge the Mexican legend at super middleweight.
Crawford has won various world titles at lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and most recently at light middleweight against Israil Madrimov to establish his credentials as arguably the sport's number one fighter.
Bouts like this are notoriously hard to predict, with it being possible that Canelo's extra size results in a one-sided affair. The fascination, of course, surrounds whether the highly-skilled and ultra-tough Crawford can pile on the weight and pull off a legendary win up at super middleweight.
Hamzah Sheeraz
Alvarez has been the world's leading 168lb fighter for several years now and has largely cleared out the division – with the exception of David Benavidez, who he has avoided in recent times.
Sheeraz is a favourite of Alalshikh's and is set to fight for a version of the middleweight title on February 22 against Carlos Adames. Should he be successful, and given Sheeraz's height and frame, it's clear he too will soon be up at 168lbs and that could see him emerge as a candidate for one of Canelo's four Riyadh Season slots.
Dmitry Bivol
Alvarez famously bit off more than he could chew when he attempted to relieve Bivol of his light-heavyweight title in 2022, with the Russian coasting to an emphatic unanimous decision victory.
It's a defeat that still bothers Canelo, and he would surely love the chance to even the score should he feel that it is a winnable fight.
Bivol lost for the first time against Artur Beterbiev last October, and is set for a rematch against his Russian rival at the top of the February 22 bill in Riyadh.
Canelo will be a keen observer of Bivol's performance and of whatever comes next – 24 rounds with Beterbiev will surely take a toll.
David Benavidez
The fight everybody wants to see. Mexican-American Benavidez has been a rising star in the stateside market but is also yet to come into the Saudi fold. He posted a clean, hard-fought win over the excellent Cuban David Morrell last weekend and has suggested he will be in Riyadh to call out the winner of the Beterbiev-Bivol rematch later this month.
Alvarez has spent the last few years avoiding Benavidez, most recently claiming that his rival's trash talk was so disrespectful that he decided against giving him a payday. If anyone has the resources to settle this increasingly bitter feud then it is Riyadh Season.
Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez
Canelo has toyed with the idea of fighting at cruiserweight in the past, with him once exploring a fight against the then WBC champion Ilunga Makabu. The opportunity to win a world title in a fifth weight class might appeal – especially with his fellow Mexican Ramirez currently holding a version of the title.
