Canelo Alvarez could be about to take on a shock opponent in May.
The Mexican superstar is set to face fellow pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford in Las Vegas in September, in a bout that will see ‘Bud’ jump up two weight divisions from super-welterweight to super-middleweight.
While Crawford isn’t planned to return before that meeting, it was expected that Alvarez would still compete in May, with a fight against current IBF super-middleweight champion William Scull seemingly the frontrunner.
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in a surprise twist, it has been reported by Julius Julianus that Canelo has agreed a deal to take on on the controversial Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
“BREAKING NEWS There is already an agreement for Jake Paul to be Canelo Álvarez’s rival in May of this year, a source very close to the operation informs me. The event will be co-promoted by Canelo Promotions, MVP and PBC”
Paul last fought in November, defeating boxing legend Mike Tyson by unanimous decision in a fight that divided the sport, with many boxing fans unhappy to see ‘Iron Mike’ competing in his first professional bout for nearly two decades at the age of 58-years-old.
It was a Tyson that was firmly past his best, but if Paul is indeed set to face Canelo, the same won’t be able to be said this time around, with the Mexican superstar arguably in his prime or just a little past it.
Paul has claimed for a number of years that he will take on Alvarez one day, having previously explained why he was so confident it would take place and vowed to ‘shock the world’ when they do meet in the ring.
“This moment will prove that I’m the face of boxing, the largest attraction. Me vs. Canelo at 200 pounds for the cruiserweight championship of the world is the biggest fight, arguably even bigger than me vs. Tyson.
“It makes so much sense. Canelo is on his way out. He’s going to want a payday, and I want to show the world that all the s*** I’ve been talking about beating Canelo is actually true.
“I’ll have the biggest upset in the sport of boxing, and we will fight to really see who actually is the face of boxing because, after this event, I’m going to claim it.”
While neither team has commented on the report, it would certainly be a huge, albeit controversial, attraction. Canelo has downplayed Paul’s ability in the past.
