Jake Paul and his promotional organisation Most Valuable Promotions have criticised the “slave” Saul “Canelo” Alvarez after watching him sign a four-fight agreement with Riyadh Season.
The 28-year-old Paul believed that he and Alvarez had agreed terms to fight in Las Vegas on May 3, for the occasion of Cinco de Mayo weekend, until learning that Alvarez, separately, had signed to abandon tradition and instead fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia against an opponent to be confirmed.
Alvarez, the WBA, WBO and WBC super-middleweight champion, is then expected to fight Terence Crawford in September, in the second of those four fights. Paul – who so shamelessly and cynically fought Mike Tyson in November in an occasion that undermined his already fragile reputation – is, according to MVP, “in active discussions with multiple high-profile opponents”.
Whether Paul is aware of concerns surrounding what has been described as “modern-day slavery” in Saudi Arabia is unclear, but he posted on social media: “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 of the ring.
“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 realise who the king of the sport is. Twenty-eight years old. Biggest fight in boxing history. My own boss. Not owned. Five years in.
“All of you felines 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.”
“MVP was deep in negotiations for a blockbuster fight between Jake Paul and Canelo Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas,” started a statement issued by MVP. “A massive 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 sport, its athletes, and the fans. Unfortunately, not everyone in the boxing world shares those values. This situation is a reminder not to believe everything you read, especially when the current media environment is often controlled by those with hidden agendas, including promoters who have reporters on their payroll.
“We remain in active discussions with multiple high-profile opponents and are committed to delivering the biggest fights, 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 continue to disrupt boxing, on our terms.”
Paul’s bravado, regardless, was perhaps matched in the social media video posted by Turki Alalshikh in which the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority revealed the news related to Alvarez by somewhat cryptically saying: “Canelo, in Riyadh, in May, the big fight, and the history of boxing. Then September.
“Then two more fights in [20]26. Don’t mess with a lion.”
The video concluded with Alalshikh, who has been seen shadowboxing while ringside, winking in apparent triumph, and was swiftly followed by him posting an image of the most majestic of lions, complemented by the words: “Don’t mess with the lion. Four fights with Canelo with Riyadh Season. The deal is done. A lion doesn’t lose sleep over opinion of a sheep. Fear the lion. Not the jungle.”
Alalshikh has, incidentally, also previously and curiously described himself as having the same “face of boxing” title Paul mentioned.
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