In last week’s edition of Notes from the Boxing Underground, I really dug deep into the whirlpool of exaggerated misinformation surrounding the Turki Alalshikh, Canelo Alvarez, and Ring Magazine fiasco, and the stream of lies fed to the public.
But, amid all that chaos, the spotlight somehow slipped away from Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and his recent decisions. He’s slotted to fight this May in Saudi Arabia, then face Terence Crawford in Las Vegas come September, followed by two bouts during the 2026 Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia (in February and October).
Honestly, I’ve felt for a while now, even before he shook hands with Saudi royalty, that Canelo’s relevance has been dwindling. Ever since Dmitry Bivol delivered that stinging defeat in May 2022, it seems like Canelo’s thirst for competitive battles has dried up. The drive that once fueled him has taken a backseat.
Before facing Bivol, Canelo’s journey was marked by some strategic match-making. Even if it was somewhat crafted, there was at least an aura of genuine competition. Post-Bivol, though, Canelo doesn’t seem to even pretend to care about the sport anymore.
He barely put any effort against a worn-out Gennadiy Golovkin, a fighter clearly past his prime and ready to be overtaken. Canelo half-heartedly took on journeyman John Ryder, and circled around Jermell Charlo for twelve rounds rather than going in for a defining end. He might have exerted a bit against Jaime Munguia, but never pushed for a grand finish. Then there was Edgar Berlanga, left standing by a current version of Canelo that seemed uninterested in even aiming for a knockout in under four rounds. Nowadays, Canelo’s charm is wearing thin; he’s in it for the payout and expects applause for the privilege of being in his audience.
Thus, his lucrative deal with Saudi Arabia shouldn’t come as a shocker. Naturally, if he’s just after cashing in checks, he’d gravitate toward whoever writes the biggest one, disregarding what’s left of his fanbase along the way. This is like a fantasy come true for someone interested in money over merit—it’s the jackpot without accountability, partnering with the wealthiest backers professional boxing has ever seen.
Moving to Saudi, Canelo walked away from his Mexican fans in an instant, faster than Turki could even exchange riyals for pesos. Apart from the bout with Crawford in September, Canelo’s newfound stage lies in Saudi Arabia, a literal world away from the majority of his steadfast supporters. By 2026, he’s also switching from traditional Mexican fight dates like Cinco de Mayo to align with Saudi festivities. I wouldn’t be shocked if shawarma soon replaces carne al pastor in his diet.
Before finalizing his deal with the Saudis, Canelo was negotiating a fight with Jake Paul, the influencer turned boxer. However, post-announcement, he quickly backtracked, denying any association with someone like Paul.
“Hey guys, don’t pay attention to anything of this YouTuber nonsense,” Canelo declared in a video shared by the Turki-owned Ring Magazine. “I fight real fighters. No goofing around with Canelo. Let’s get this moving.”
Unsurprisingly, Paul responded, firing up social media to share negotiation details and supporting it with a screenshot of a signed contract between him and Canelo.
“Oh, Canelo, you traitor” Paul taunted in a video. “We had a signed deal to fight—here’s your autograph right next to mine. Claiming he’s not after YouTubers? Lies. Here’s the poster. We were planning an announcement for Tuesday, February 11. You talk about taking on real fighters, yet shy away from people like David Benavidez and instead fight Crawford, a 135-pounder. What a coward.”
“Let’s be honest—you’re easily bought. All you’re after is a bigger purse. The less honorable ones are throwing millions at you to derail our fight because they can’t top the attention a match between us would bring. Al Haymon lined your pockets with millions—you turned on him for this big payday. No loyalty—there’s more to boxing than cash.”
I’d hate to admit it, but Paul’s rebuttal earned a casual, slow applause from me.
For his inaugural fight in the Saudi spotlight, Canelo’s opponent will be William Scull. Although Scull might claim the title of a professional fighter, he’s not any more ‘legitimate’ than Jake Paul. In fact, the betting world ranks the Cuban-born German fighter as a bigger underdog than Paul would ever have been.
With an interim IBF super middleweight belt, Scull stands as one of Canelo’s least formidable foes since his days battling in small-time, local bouts. So much for Turki’s big talk about top-tier matches.
Getting to the supposedly “major” event that follows Scull: Canelo versus Terence Crawford. Truth be told, it’s not much less of a circus than a showdown with Jake Paul. Crawford, a prior champion across multiple weight classes, having edged past his first junior middleweight bout, doesn’t deserve a crack at Canelo—there are more fitting challengers waiting for both fighters.
Despite being a lightweight to welterweight champ, Crawford is being served this chance because he’s Turki’s latest project, and since Canelo perceives him as beatable due to his size. Yet, it’ll make for quite the spectacle if Crawford manages to clinch victory.
On one hand, losing a figure like Canelo, dwindling as his status might be, won’t bode well for American boxing. The scene’s already taken so many blows since promoters began selling their morals for slices of Turki’s bankroll.
It’s no secret—it doesn’t take a detective to realize that this supposed savior of boxing is merely stripping it bare, relocating all assets back to his backyard. Boxing thrives on personalities and grand events, and without local access to memorable matches or stars cultivated through them, well, we’re hit hard.
We’re in an era where the powerful play the vulnerable for fools—fools who later thank them for being deceived. What’s shocking about the absurdly wealthy Saudis making an already prosperous Canelo wealthier, while unsuspecting North American fans have to foot the bill for it all?
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