“You’re a money-hungry squirrel chasing your next nut,” said Jake Paul after Canelo Alvarez unexpectedly signed a four-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh for Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season. His induction into Riyadh Season sent shockwaves through the boxing community, as the Mexican superstar was initially expected to clash with Jake Paul. The entire situation has left the younger Paul brother in a tough spot. Interestingly, Daniel Cormier has now weighed in on the controversy with his own take.
While discussing Francis Ngannou’s return to boxing on his YouTube channel, Daniel Cormier emphasized that Saudi Arabia currently holds exclusive decision-making power in the boxing world due to its immense wealth. Giving Jake Paul’s example, Cormier emphasized that the YouTuber-turned-boxer thought he had a chance to fight Canelo Alvarez but in the final moments, the Mexican boxing star changed his decision to sign a deal with Turki Alalshikh.
“He saw what just happened with Jake Paul and Canelo Alvarez. Jake Paul seriously thought he had Canelo. Then Turki Alalshik signed Canelo to a deal with the Saudi fund—I don’t know what it’s called, but it’s the boxing authority, right? The money is so vast there, the opportunities to make big, life-changing money are so big that they can get a guy like Canelo to change course,” said Daniel Cormier.
According to sources, the WBC, WBA, and WBO super middleweight champ has signed a massive $400 million four-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh. Sources further suggest that this is one of the most lucrative boxing deals in the history of the sport. The deal states that the Pugilist would clash against IBF champion William Scull in May 2025, followed by the most anticipated clash with Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford in September of the same year.
Boxing: Paul vs Silva Oct 29, 2022 Glendale, Arizona, USA Jake Paul during a boxing match at Desert Diamond Arena. Glendale Desert Diamond Arena Arizona USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMarkxJ.xRebilasx 20221029_mjr_su5_019
Jake Paul had the rug pulled from underneath him by the deal as he held preliminary talks with Canelo Alvarez for the clash. After the news, ‘The Problem Child’ took to his X handle to upload a video exposing the Canelo-Alalshikh deal, “The truth is, these sports-washing, shady characters are paying you hundreds of millions of dollars to stop our fight from happening because they couldn’t fathom the fact that they can’t create a bigger fight than me and you.”
Well, it appears that Paul would have to wait till next year for Alvarez to free himself from the contract. Interestingly, Dana White has come forward to express his thoughts in the signing as well.
Dana White reacts to Canelo Alvarez being snatched away from Jake Paul
According to many insiders from the boxing community, Turki Alalshikh is one of the most revolutionary things that has happened to the sport and his existence has somehow revived boxing. The Canelo Alvarez deal is a huge thing for the boxing fraternity considering the fact that it just shows the immense power that Saudi Arabia now holds over the sport. Reacting to the deal, Dana White asserted that Alalshikh holds a significant stake in the sport now, “Listen, they control the sport of boxing right now.”
He further added, “I don’t know the ins and outs of that deal but I’m sure it’s not too hard to steal somebody away from [Jake Paul and Most Valuable Promotions] to Saudi. Totally different levels. Not even the same universe of levels.” Of course, White is a bit biased on Alalshikh’s side considering the duo does business together but it cannot be denied that the ‘Saudi Money’ is not something that should be underestimated.
To give you a small comparison, Canelo Alvarez will earn $400 million for his four fights in Riyadh season. To make it even more specific, according to the report submitted by Action Network. If all four bouts go the full 12 rounds, Álvarez is set to pocket around $100 million per fight. That translates to roughly $8.33 million per round, $231,481 for every minute, and an incredible $3,858 per second inside the ring.
Jake Paul would never be able to give Canelo Alvarez such a lucrative deal. Well, what are your thoughts on the drama? State your opinion in the comments below.
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