Canelo Alvarez Scraps Paul Fight in Favour of Crawford Showdown

In a dramatic reversal, Canelo Alvarez will not be fighting Jake Paul after all, with Terence Crawford set to replace the YouTuber-turned-boxer.

Just hours after reports surfaced of a potential May 3 cruiserweight clash between the two fighters, the reigning super middleweight champion has instead locked in a lucrative four-fight deal with Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, including a highly anticipated showdown with Crawford in September.

According to ESPN, Canelo Alvarez will defend his WBA, WBC, and WBO super middleweight titles against Crawford on September 13 in Las Vegas. The deal ensures that the previously canceled bout will now proceed as planned.

The fight against Alvarez will present a new challenge for Crawford, who will be moving up two weight classes to take on the Mexican superstar. The 37-year-old, who holds a perfect 41-0 record with 31 knockouts, is widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Before that, however, Alvarez will step into the ring in Riyadh on May 4 against an opponent yet to be finalized. Jermall Charlo and Bruno Surace are reportedly among the top candidates. The Mexican’s contract with Turki Alalshikh includes two additional bouts in 2026—one in February and another in October.

One of those fights is expected to be a rematch against Dmitry Bivol, the only man to defeat Alvarez in the past decade in a light heavyweight bout. For Alvarez, this agreement solidifies his place at the top of boxing’s elite. The 33-year-old boasts a 62-2-2 record with 39 knockouts and has won 11 straight fights at super middleweight since 2013.

The chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Al Alshikh, confirmed the deal on social media, taking a direct shot at Jake Paul’s credentials in the process. “Canelo fights only real fighters,” he told ESPN, making it clear that Alvarez had no interest in facing the YouTuber-turned-boxer.

Paul, who has built a reputation as one of boxing’s biggest attractions, now finds himself sidelined. The 28-year-old had been closing in on a deal to face Alvarez at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which was widely seen as a major payday but not a competitive fight.

With the Crawford showdown back on and a long-term plan in place, Álvarez has made it clear that his focus remains on serious contenders—not crossover spectacles like Paul.