Mexican boxing star Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has agreed a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season, ending speculation he was set for an exhibition bout with Jake Paul, the influencer turned fighter.
Alvarez, 34, has been the sport's biggest draw for many years but is yet to fight on a Saudi-backed card.
Rumours persisted throughout the week that a bout between Alvarez and Paul on the streaming platform Netflix was all but done, and that the Mexican great was turning his back on a big money offer from Saudi Arabia.
However, early on Friday morning, Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and the power broker behind Saudi prizefighting, announced through his social media channels that he had concluded a deal with Alvarez.
Alalshikh is determined to make a fight between Canelo and the American multi-weight champion Terence Crawford this September.
The Ring magazine, owned by Alalshikh, reported that Alvarez will fight in Riyadh in May before facing Crawford in Las Vegas in September – most likely at the Raiders' Allegiant Stadium on September 13 to coincide with Mexican Independence Day weekend – and then return to the Saudi capital for two further bouts in February and October of 2026.
“Canelo in Riyadh in May, then the biggest fight in the history of boxing [against Crawford] in September, and then two more in 2026,” said Alalshikh in a video posted to X and Instagram.
Responding to the post by Alalshikh, Alvarez said: “Let's go brother.” Crawford was also quick to reply, posting: “I’m waiting on Canelo in September and going to shock the world in Riyadh Season!”
Alvarez would have been an overwhelming favourite to beat Paul, the YouTube star who has turned himself into one of the biggest draws in combat sports while fighting mixed martial artists and, most recently, the 58-year-old Mike Tyson.
Instead, Alvarez appears to be back on track for a meeting with Crawford, who will have to move up two weight classes. Alvarez last fought in September in Las Vegas, easily outpointing Edgar Berlanga to improve to 62-2-2. He has 39 knockouts.
Five potential opponents for Canelo Alvarez
With Canelo now in line for money-spinning Saudi-backed fights, every contender from 160-175 pounds and beyond will be hoping for the call. Below are five possible opponents for the 34-year-old champion.
Terence Crawford
This one appears to be a lock for September in Las Vegas with the American pound-for-pound great stepping up to challenge the Mexican legend at super middleweight.
Crawford has won various world titles at lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and most recently at light middleweight against Israil Madrimov to establish his credentials as arguably the sport's number one fighter.
Bouts like this are notoriously hard to predict, with it being possible that Canelo's extra size results in a one-sided affair. The fascination, of course, surrounds whether the highly-skilled and ultra-tough Crawford can pile on the weight and pull off a legendary win up at super middleweight.
Hamzah Sheeraz
Alvarez has been the world's leading 168lb fighter for several years now and has largely cleared out the division – with the exception of David Benavidez, who he has avoided in recent times.
Sheeraz is a favourite of Alalshikh's and is set to fight for a version of the middleweight title on February 22 against Carlos Adames. Should he be successful, and given Sheeraz's height and frame, it's clear he too will soon be up at 168lbs and that could see him emerge as a candidate for one of Canelo's four Riyadh Season slots.
Dmitry Bivol
Alvarez famously bit off more than he could chew when he attempted to relieve Bivol of his light-heavyweight title in 2022, with the Russian coasting to an emphatic unanimous decision victory.
It's a defeat that still bothers Canelo, and he would surely love the chance to even the score should he feel that it is a winnable fight.
Bivol lost for the first time against Artur Beterbiev last October, and is set for a rematch against his Russian rival at the top of the February 22 bill in Riyadh.
Canelo will be a keen observer of Bivol's performance and of whatever comes next – 24 rounds with Beterbiev will surely take a toll.
David Benavidez
The fight everybody wants to see. Mexican-American Benavidez has been a rising star in the stateside market but is also yet to come into the Saudi fold. He posted a clean, hard-fought win over the excellent Cuban David Morrell last weekend and has suggested he will be in Riyadh to call out the winner of the Beterbiev-Bivol rematch later this month.
Alvarez has spent the last few years avoiding Benavidez, most recently claiming that his rival's trash talk was so disrespectful that he decided against giving him a payday. If anyone has the resources to settle this increasingly bitter feud then it is Riyadh Season.
Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez
Canelo has toyed with the idea of fighting at cruiserweight in the past, with him once exploring a fight against the then WBC champion Ilunga Makabu. The opportunity to win a world title in a fifth weight class might appeal – especially with his fellow Mexican Ramirez currently holding a version of the title.
The view from The National
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20myZoi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Syed%20Ali%2C%20Christian%20Buchholz%2C%20Shanawaz%20Rouf%2C%20Arsalan%20Siddiqui%2C%20Nabid%20Hassan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2037%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Initial%20undisclosed%20funding%20from%20SC%20Ventures%3B%20second%20round%20of%20funding%20totalling%20%2414%20million%20from%20a%20consortium%20of%20SBI%2C%20a%20Japanese%20VC%20firm%2C%20and%20SC%20Venture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
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Stage result
1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 4:42:34
2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco
5. Emils Liepins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
6. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
7. Max Kanter (Ger) Movistar Team
8. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
9. Tom Devriendt (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirate
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The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode
Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
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What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
THURSDAY'S FIXTURES
4pm Maratha Arabians v Northern Warriors
6.15pm Deccan Gladiators v Pune Devils
8.30pm Delhi Bulls v Bangla Tigers
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
SCORES IN BRIEF
New Zealand 153 and 56 for 1 in 22.4 overs at close
Pakistan 227
(Babar 62, Asad 43, Boult 4-54, De Grandhomme 2-30, Patel 2-64)
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
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- Anne-Marie Morris
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- Lee Rowley
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- Martin Vickers
- John Whittingdale
