When Jake Paul proclaimed in 2021 that he would one day share the ring with boxing’s biggest star, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, few actually believed him. But almost four years later, it could very well become reality.
Alvarez and Paul are currently deep into discussions for a Cinco de Mayo weekend fight on May 3 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout, if finalized, will stream on Netflix.
Uncrowned confirmed the news Thursday following an initial report by ESPN.
Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs), boxing’s unified super middleweight (168 pounds) champion, would move up to the 200-pound cruiserweight division for the fight. “Canelo” has held titles in four different weight classes, ranging from super welterweight, which has a 154-pound limit, to the light heavyweight 175-pound limit.
Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) has fought the majority of his career at cruiserweight, except for his latest outing, which saw him tip the scales at a career-heaviest 227.25 pounds to face retired legend Mike Tyson in November. Paul vs. Tyson was also broadcast on Netflix and drew more than 60 million live streams.
Alvarez, Uncrowned’s No. 6 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, is the sport’s top draw.
Paul, 28, has made his career off boxing former MMA fighters and low-level pugilists. He has never fought anyone remotely close to a world-class level, so facing Alvarez represents a monumental step up for the social media star turned novice boxer.
Alvarez, 34, had previously been working toward finalizing a deal to face fellow four-division champion and pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford in September at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on a Riyadh Season show, but news broke Wednesday night that the bout had fallen through. Turki Alalshikh, who alongside Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority operates Riyadh Season, suspended talks for Alvarez vs. Crawford after previously offering Alvarez a three-fight deal that would’ve begun with September’s Crawford fight.
Alalshikh has been a staunch critic of influencer-type events and Paul’s path through the boxing world.
Read the full article here