Home » Canelo to fight in Riyadh in May under four-bout deal; Paul fight off

Canelo to fight in Riyadh in May under four-bout deal; Paul fight off

Expect Canelo Alvarez to fight in Riyadh as early as May after he signed a four-bout deal with Turki Alalshikh with Riyadh Season on Thursday.

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CANELO TO FIGHT IN RIYADH IN MAY FOR THE FIRST TIME

Expect Canelo to fight in Riydh in May for the first time after he forged a deal with Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.

ESPN reported the news on Thursday.

Furthermore, the Mexican four-division champion placed his signature after the original three-fight deal was expanded with an extra bout.

Moreover, Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) had to cancel a planned fight with YouTuber Jake Paul in a stunning turnaround.

Additionally, Alalshik reminded the 34-year-old champion that his three-fight offer will be off the table if the latter push through with fighting Paul.

Let’s go brother 👊🏻 https://t.co/Wy1PYfSWcY

— Canelo Alvarez (@Canelo) February 7, 2025

ALVAREZ ONLY WANTED TO FIGHT ON CINCO DE MAYO

Alvarez told Alalshik that he initially considered the Paul bout because he wanted to fight in May.

Moreover, May’s Cinco de Mayo weekend is a popular slot to stage major boxing cards.

Furthermore, Alvarez had held some of his big fights in the past.

Furthermore, the fourth extra fight in the deal, sources said, will be held on May 4.

This will accommodate a primetime US broadcast May 3 bout on Cinco de Mayo weekend.

Jermall Challo and Bruno Surace are being considered as possible May opponents for Alvarez.

“Canelo fights only real fighters,” Alalshikh told ESPN.

ESPN story on the twists and turns from a wild night in the boxing business as Canelo Alvarez nixed a Jake Paul fight at the 11th hour to close a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season with a May fight in Saudi Arabia and a Sept. bout with Terence Crawford:https://t.co/ZtrCvi5rNr

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) February 7, 2025

MAY FIGHT TO SERVE AS ALVAREZ’S TUNEUP FIGHT FOR CRAWFORD SHOWDOWN IN SEPTEMBER

The May fight will now serve as Alvarez’s tuneup bout for his major showdown against Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) in Las Vegas in September.

Furthermore, Uncrowned’s Keith Idec first reported on Monday via Ring Magazine a possible Canelo-Crawford showdown.

“I’m waiting on Canelo in September and going to shock the world in Riyadh Season” Crawford said in response to Alalshikh’s announcement of the Alvarez deal.

The American is moving two weight classes from 154 pounds to Alvarez’s 168-lb division to make the mega-fight happen.

Alvarez is scheduled to fight in February and October 2026 as part of the four-fight deal.

😎🦁🥊 pic.twitter.com/7npOJks8Hv

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) February 7, 2025