Jake Paul’s fight with Canelo Alvarez will not be happening, and Dana White has weighed in on the situation. The fight was rumored to be in the works, but Canelo signed a major four fight deal under Turki Alalshikh’s growing influence in Saudi Arabia, shutting down any hopes of facing Paul.
Paul has been trying to change the way fans see him in boxing. Even though he has an 11-1 record, many believe his only loss to Tommy Fury proves he has struggled against experienced opponents. A fight with Canelo would have been his biggest challenge, but now he will need to find a new path forward.
Dana White is not surprised by what happened
White, who has often spoken about the state of boxing, was not shocked by the news.
“They control the sport of boxing right now,” he said when asked about Canelo choosing to fight elsewhere. “I do not think it is hard for them to steal anybody from anybody.”
Turki Alalshikh has changed the boxing scene by making major fights happen, bringing together big names that fans never expected to see in the ring. The power shift in the sport is clear, and Canelo’s new deal is just another example of it.
White also spoke about how easily fighters are moving to Saudi Arabia.
“I do not know the ins and outs of that deal, but I am sure it is not too hard to steal somebody away from them to Saudi,” he said.
With Canelo now tied to Saudi Arabia, his next opponent could be a big name like Terence Crawford or David Benavidez. Paul, on the other hand, is left searching for his next fight.
White summed up the difference in levels between Canelo and Paul.
“Totally different levels there. Not even the same universe of levels,” he said.
The growing control of boxing in Saudi Arabia has already led to some of the biggest fights in recent years. With more high profile matchups expected in the future, Paul may have to rethink his plans if he wants to land a major fight.
