Jake Paul and his promotional company, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), have criticized Saul Canelo Alvarez following the Mexican boxer’s decision to sign a four-fight contract with Riyadh Season, branding the 34-year-old a slave.
Paul, who believed he was in negotiations for a high-profile bout against Alvarez in Las Vegas on May 3 during Cinco de Mayo weekend, was frustrated upon learning that Alvarez had instead committed to fighting in Saudi Arabia.
The four-fight agreement means Alvarez, the reigning WBA, WBO, and WBC super-middleweight champion, will kick off his campaign in Riyadh against an unnamed opponent. A potential showdown with Terence Crawford is expected in September.
Yet, Paul, who recently fought Mike Tyson, is reportedly engaged in talks with multiple high-profile opponents but still found the time to take to social media to vent his disappointment and launched a scathing attack on Alvarez, accusing him of prioritizing money over legacy.
“Breaking news: Canelo Alvarez ducked me, Jake Paul,” the YouTuber-turned-boxer posted to X.com, formerly Twitter. “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 realize who the king of the sport is. Twenty-eight years old. Biggest fight in boxing history. My own boss. Not owned.”
Most Valuable Promotions slam Canelo
Paul‘s bold statements received a firm response from Saudi officials when Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, cryptically confirmed Alvarez‘s commitment through a video
Alalshikh then formally announced the news of the four-fight deal by calling Canelo a “lion”, prompting MVP echoed Paul‘s frustration in an official statement.
“MVP was deep in negotiations for a blockbuster fight between Jake Paul and Canelo Alvarez on Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas,” MVP posted online. “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.
“We remain in active discussions with multiple high-profile opponents and are committed to delivering the biggest fights and working with partners who share our commitment to boxing.”