Saul Canelo Alvarez, the Mexican superstar, sets his sights on historic fights in 2025, leaving a potential clash with Jake Paul in the dust. On March 6, 2025, Alvarez spoke with CBS Sports Brian Campbell, revealing his plans under a fresh four fight deal with Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, a big shot in boxing’s global scene. The 34 year old champ, with a record of 62 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws, is gearing up for a May 3 bout against William Scull in Riyadh, followed by a September showdown with Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. This new path sidelines any talk of facing Paul, the YouTube sensation turned boxer.
Alvarez didn’t mince words about Paul, who has an 11 1 record with 7 knockouts, including a debated points win over Mike Tyson in November 2024 that drew 108 million viewers on Netflix.
“Because it’s better for me,” Canelo shared with clarity. “This point in my career, I just wanna continue making history, you know? That [Jake Paul] fight, I don’t even call it a fight. It’s like an event more than a fight. That event can wait until I retire.”
For Alvarez, who has claimed titles in four weight classes and boasts 39 knockouts, legacy means battling elite boxers, not social media stars like the 28 year old Paul, whose wins include ex UFC fighters like Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva.
The deal with Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, marks a new chapter for Alvarez after a rocky start with the promoter. Alvarez praised the move for its impact on the sport.
“I think it’s the best for the fighters out there. I’m fine with that,” Canelo said. “I think they’re gonna do the best for the fighters. I’m pretty sure about that. And I’m glad somebody [will] take care of the fighters because there is a lot of promoters who don’t take seriously the fighters, and I think this is good for boxing. For the fighters, especially.”
This agreement replaces a briefly considered May 3 fight with Paul, shifting focus to top tier opponents like Scull, the IBF super middleweight king with a 22 0 record, and Crawford, a three division champ with a perfect 41 0 slate.
“I don’t even call [boxing Paul] a fight, it’s more of an event than a fight. That event can wait til I retire.”@Canelo tells our @BCampbell why he chose the fight against William Scull over a bout with Jake Paul 👀 pic.twitter.com/hPWIdATP8c
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 6, 2025
Canelo Maps Out a Packed 2025 Schedule
Alvarez also teased his traditional fighting window.
“Yeah, always [the] opportunity to fight in September in Las Vegas,” he noted regarding the whispers. “That’s my day. But I need to take care of the May fight first, and then we’ll see about September. But the possibility to fight in September in Las Vegas and be the the first event, tomorrow.”
The September slot, often tied to Mexican Independence Day celebrations, has been a staple for Alvarez, with past classics at T Mobile Arena drawing massive crowds. His May clash with Scull in Riyadh aims for undisputed status at 168 pounds, while the Crawford fight in September promises a blockbuster battle between two of boxing’s best.
Paul’s camp had pushed hard for a Cinco de Mayo weekend fight at a 200 pound cruiserweight limit, with reports from ESPN’s Mike Coppinger noting advanced talks before the Saudi deal took over. Paul has since taken to social media, claiming Alvarez ducked him, but the champ’s focus remains on legacy.
Alvarez’s career highlights include wins over Gennady Golovkin and Callum Smith, with his only losses to Dmitry Bivol in 2022 and Floyd Mayweather in 2013. The Saudi pact also lists future foes like Jermall Charlo and a Bivol rematch for 2026, ensuring Alvarez stays on a path of high stakes battles. With a sold out crowd expected in Riyadh and Las Vegas, 2025 could cement Alvarez as one of boxing’s all time greats.
