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Canelo Alvarez Vs. Jake Paul Rumors Pile Up

Canelo Alvarez Vs. Jake Paul Rumors Pile Up featured image
Despite the unlikelihood of a fight between Canelo Alvarez and Jake Paul occurring, latest reports appear to confirm the two have been in discussions for a possible fight in May during the annual Mexican "Cinco de Mayo" celebrations. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)

Boxing has steadily become a breeding ground for sensationalism, no more evident as when rumors of Canelo Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KO’s) facing Jake Paul during the “Cinco de Mayo” weekend started springing up as if factual.

No true legitimacy was given to the rumors, however, until longtime boxing writer Dan Rafael claimed Alvarez and Paul were discussing a possible fight on May 3rd in Las Vegas, though this is heavily contradicted by a social media post from Paul yesterday where he hinted at a return to the ring in July:

It’s time,Paul’s Twitter/X message reads. “[Saturday] July 5th, New York, New York.

With Rafael arguably the most reliable source on this potential Alvarez-Paul fight, it is fair to conclude that while there may be discussions between both teams, there are no full-fledged contract talks yet. While Jake Paul has called out Canelo Alvarez on multiple occasions, Alvarez has not given a potential fight against the American any priority―with one of his last comments about Paul suggesting he would only consider fighting him after retiring.

However, with Alvarez having not been shy about setting enormous price tags for fights against other professional boxers, it would not be completely out of the question for him to consider a fight with Paul this year if it was lucrative enough.

Aside from the fight not likely to happen given Paul’s announced fight date in July and Alvarez’ strict adherence over the past couple of years to fight in May and September only [during the annual Mexican holidays held during those months], the most prominent barrier towards the fight occurring remains whether it would be sanctioned.

Both the WBA and WBC―whose super middleweight (168 lbs) titles Alvarez currently holds―could potentially approve of the fight, depending on how much attention the fight would garner. This is evident by the WBC allowing Tyson Fury to face a MMA fighter in Francis Ngannou despite having been obligated to defend his title against a top-rated heavyweight contender. The WBC further planned on officially ranking Jake Paul in the past for his 2023 fight against Tommy Fury, indicating they have an express interest in the American regardless of whether he merits a place amongst more competitive boxers.

The WBA itself has shown traces of bias or corruption in their decisions which would leave them pliable to sanctioning a Alvarez-Paul bout.

However, the WBO, with whom Canelo Alvarez also has a 168-pound belt, would likely not approve of such a fight given countless past instances of consistency and strictness.

Other than the sanctioning bodies, it would be a touch-and-go on which State Athletic Commission would approve of the fight if it were to happen in the United States, with Texas’ boxing commission the most likely to allow such a bout to transpire given their role in allowing Jake Paul to face an almost 60-year old Mike Tyson in a professional boxing contest.

However, given the rumors pinpointed Las Vegas as the location for a potential Alvarez-Paul bout, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) is unlikely to allow it to happen due to the wide discrepancy in ability and experience between the two fighters.

Supposedly, if a fight between Alvarez and Paul were to occur, it would have no bearings on the rumored September match between the Mexican champion and current WBA super welterweight (154 lbs) champion Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KO’s).

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