Canelo Alvarez sent a clear message to Jake Paul after their potential fight fell through earlier this year. The Mexican boxing star decided to go in a different direction, leaving the YouTube sensation turned boxer without the marquee matchup he wanted.
For a while, folks thought Canelo (34) and Paul (27) might actually step into the ring together. Paul had been calling out the unified super middleweight champion for years, and it looked like his dream might come true after his win over Mike Tyson.
But Canelo changed his mind. Instead of facing "The Problem Child," he signed a big 4-fight deal with Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia. His next bout will be against IBF super middleweight champ William Scull on May 3 in Riyadh.
When Fight Hype asked Canelo to sum up some fighters in a few words, he had this to say about Jake Paul:
"Great businessman."
That short description says a lot. Canelo recognizes Paul's ability to make money and generate interest, even if he doesn't see him as a serious boxing threat.
Canelo's decision to pass on the Paul fight opens up some interesting possibilities. If he beats Scull, he'll become a two-time undisputed super middleweight champion. That could set up a huge clash with fellow pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford.
As for Jake Paul, he hasn't announced his next opponent yet. He's been trying to lure Tommy Fury into a rematch, offering the unbeaten Brit $3 million to run it back. We'll have to wait and see if that fight comes together or if Paul finds another dance partner.
While a Canelo vs. Paul matchup would've been a spectacle, it looks like both fighters will be heading down separate paths for now. Canelo's chasing more championship glory, while Paul continues to build his boxing brand one fight at a time.
