Canelo Alvarez Lands Lucrative Four-Fight Deal with Riyadh Season, Eyes Crawford Bout

Boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez has inked a multi-fight deal with Riyadh Season, the Saudi Arabian-backed promotional group, in a move that solidifies his position as boxing’s biggest draw and potentially sets the stage for a highly anticipated clash with Terence Crawford, Al Jazeera reports.

Turki Alalshikh, head of Riyadh Season and the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, made the announcement via social media on Thursday, signaling a significant investment in the sport by the Kingdom.

Alvarez, a longtime boxing kingpin known for his financial prowess, appears to have leveraged the potential of a widely speculated, albeit less prestigious, fight against YouTube sensation Jake Paul to secure the lucrative agreement. While a bout against Paul would have been a guaranteed payday, with Alvarez an overwhelming favorite, the Mexican champion has seemingly opted for a path that promises both financial reward and a chance to cement his legacy against top-tier competition.

“Let’s go brother,” Alvarez responded on social media following Alalshikh’s announcement.

The first fight under the new deal is slated for May in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Following that, Ring Magazine, citing sources with knowledge of the details, reports that a blockbuster fight against Terence Crawford is planned for September in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.

Crawford, the consensus best pound-for-pound boxer currently holding the super welterweight title, would be moving up two weight classes to challenge Alvarez. The 37-year-old recently defeated Israil Madrimov by unanimous decision in Los Angeles on August 3, becoming a four-division champion in the process. The potential matchup is already generating significant buzz within the boxing community.

Alvarez, 34, last fought in September in Las Vegas, defeating Edgar Berlanga to improve his record to 62-2-2 with 39 knockouts. The deal with Riyadh Season marks a significant step in securing his continued dominance in the sport and ensuring that his fights remain high-profile, globally recognized events.

Meanwhile, the potential for Jake Paul to face off against another high-profile fighter remains. Former UFC champion Conor McGregor previously indicated in December that he had reached a preliminary agreement to fight Paul in an exhibition boxing match, leaving the door open for the YouTube star’s continued foray into combat sports.