Choosing the next opponent shouldn’t be a complicated decision for a boxer. But when that boxer is Canelo Alvarez—who has limited time left in the sport—every fight must be carefully selected for maximum impact. As it stands, ‘Cinnamon’ is set to face IBF super middleweight champion William Scull on May 3 in Riyadh.
This bout is expected to pave the way for a highly anticipated showdown between Alvarez and Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. However, the bigger question remains, who should the Mexican superstar fight next? Which matchup makes the most financial sense, and which one best enhances Canelo’s legacy?
Jake Paul or Terence Crawford: Which fight pays Canelo Alvarez more?
Beyond his fighting spirit, Canelo Alvarez isn’t one to pass up a massive payday. And when it comes to choosing his next opponent, financial incentives will play a significant role—whether that means facing Jake Paul, Terence Crawford, or another high-profile challenger.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh is reportedly offering Canelo Alvarez over $100 million for a four-fight deal, an eye-watering sum that doesn’t even include pay-per-view revenue, which could push his total earnings even higher. The Saudi-backed offer signals just how valuable Canelo remains in the boxing world, with promoters eager to secure his name on blockbuster events.
The upcoming fight against Terence Crawford, set to take place in the U.S., is expected to be a massive draw. With a strong live audience and pay-per-view sales, Canelo’s payout for the bout will only grow. But the financial stakes go far beyond just one fight. If Crawford manages to pull off the upset, a rematch would be inevitable—and a much bigger spectacle—bringing in even more money.
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On the other hand, if Canelo beats Crawford, the future only gets more lucrative. The remaining two fights in the Saudi deal could feature clashes against Dmitry Bivol and David Benavidez—two of the most highly anticipated matchups in boxing today. Both fights would be major events, potentially breaking pay-per-view records and securing Alvarez another historic payday.
Despite the lucrative nature of Canelo’s deal with Alalshikh, the fight offer from Jake Paul was no small matter. Estimates suggest that the now-canceled bout with Paul could have earned Canelo between $60 million and $80 million. Love him or hate him, Jake Paul is a massive draw—people are more than willing to pay just to see him get knocked out.
Paul’s Netflix deal for his fight against Mike Tyson proved his drawing power, shattering records with ease. Had Canelo accepted the fight, it could have been an even bigger spectacle—potentially surpassing Tyson’s numbers. That’s precisely why Paul was furious when Canelo walked away from negotiations to sign with the Saudis.
As the clear A-side in a fight against Paul, Canelo would have had significant leverage in negotiations. If he demanded a $50 million purse, combined with pay-per-view revenue, he could have easily walked away with an $80 million payday. However, there was one major downside—the fight would have been a one-off. Unlike his deal with the Saudis, Canelo wouldn’t have had the opportunity to maximize long-term earnings from multiple events.
Who should Canelo fight? AI answers
By now, you already know who Canelo Alvarez has chosen to fight. But we decided to take things a step further—we asked AI what Canelo should have done. And its response might just surprise you. After analyzing both options, AI quickly broke down the pros and cons before arriving at its conclusion.
On fighting Terence Crawford, AI noted, “Beating an all-time great like Crawford adds to Canelo’s legacy. If he wins, he cements himself as the best fighter of his era.” Even if Canelo were to lose, AI argued that it wouldn’t tarnish his reputation—after all, he lost to Dmitry Bivol and still remains a pound-for-pound great.
On fighting Jake Paul, AI didn’t hold back: “A win over Jake Paul does nothing for Canelo’s boxing legacy.” The algorithm pointed out that fans would never let Canelo forget the fact that the fight was a blatant cash grab. “Even if Canelo knocks Jake out in one round, it won’t impress hardcore boxing fans.” So, what was AI’s final verdict?
“Crawford & Turki’s multi-fight deal ensures long-term financial security, strengthens Canelo’s boxing legacy, and keeps him at the top of the sport with elite-level fights.” However, AI didn’t completely dismiss the idea of fighting Paul. It suggested that the only scenario where Canelo should take the fight is if “he wants a quick payday, an easy fight, and plans to retire soon without caring about his legacy.”
That said, there’s one possibility that does make sense—an exhibition match against Jake Paul after Canelo retires. In that case, Paul gets his false sense of accomplishment, and Canelo secures another massive payday. But if Canelo is serious about proving he’s the best and maintaining his dominance in boxing, the only real choice is Terence Crawford.
It appears, even AI thinks Canelo Alvarez should fight Terence Crawford instead of Jake Paul. But the question is, do you agree with the opinion? Should Canelo have fought Paul?
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