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“winners” and “losers” of the whirlwind news cycle, as content creators and members of the media did. The players involved in what unfolded – Alvarez, Crawford, Paul, Turki Alalshikh, Al Haymon, Richard Schaefer, Netflix and DAZN – are all power brokers in this wayward business. They’ll be just fine – at least financially speaking – no matter what happens. Here’s all that matters to me: Alvarez gave Paul the middle finger and signed a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season beginning with William Scull in Saudi Arabia on May 3, which sets up the most intriguing matchup that can take place in America and could quite possibly be Canelo’s swan song on U.S. soil. I don’t care much for his Riyadh debut. Scull, the holder of the IBF 168-pound title that was stripped from then-undisputed champ Alvarez last year, is no different from the challengers the Mexican star outclassed in 2024 – Jaime Munguia and Edgar Berlanga. Scull is undefeated, Ring-ranked, and he has no chance. The only difference is that the Germany-based Cuban lacks the aforementioned pair’s fan-friendly styles (and fan followings). However, a victory over Scull will lead to the Vegas showdown with Crawford in September, and I do care about that one. It’s the biggest legit event that can take place in North America, and the U.S. boxing scene desperately needs it. It might be the last major U.S. event that Alvarez takes part in. The other two fights of Canelo’s four-bout deal will take place in Riyadh in February and October 2026. Alalshikh’s social media post announcing the deal with Canelo noted that February and October would be “big fights.” A rematch with Dmitry Bivol has been mentioned as a potential matchup for the February date along with other opponents that, quite frankly,
gloves). Here’s some free advice for Paul: Instead of talking your usual shit during the pre-fight buildup to this fight, just hang out with Andy. Smoke weed, play Xbox, do fun shit and share it on your social media. That will be sufficient promotion, and I bet it encourages the big lug to take it easy on ya. Badou Jack – No, this respected veteran isn’t Mexican, but his world title is! The Dubai-based Swede, who faced the best super middleweights and light heavyweights before moving to cruiserweight, isn’t as big as Ruiz, but he’s more dangerous because he’s serious about his profession. Paul won’t get the WBC 200-pound titleholder to agree to Tyson Rules, but he might be getting him at the right time. Jack is 41 and hasn’t fought in more than two years. More free advice for Paul: Get him now before someone else does, like the WBC’s No. 1 contender, Ryan Rozicki. Rozicki, the heavily tattooed hitter from Canada who bears an uncanny resemblance to Conan O’Brien, might not be a bad choice for Paul if Ruiz and Jack aren’t available. I’m kidding. That dude is terrifying. He’ll try to kill Jake. I have no idea who Paul will choose to fight this year or who will ultimately face Alvarez in 2026 – and there’s no doubt that there will be a revolving door of rumored opponents – but I hope the coverage of that process is done with more professionalism and patience than the reporting of their aborted May 3 event. I know that’s easy for the editor of a magazine to say. A monthly publication isn’t under the insane minute-by-minute pressure to break news that websites and social media accounts are tasked with. The Ring often has the luxury of waiting until the dust settles on finalized events before writing about them, so we have time for journalism and the ethics that come with the profession. I only bring this up, dear readers, because I want you to hold us to those standards. We have to feed the beast like every other media outlet, but we’ll feed it quality food.
sound only slightly more interesting than William Scull. I doubt either of Canelo’s 2026 dates will include David Benavidez, The Ring’s No. 2-rated light heavyweight, who spent three years (2021-2023) lobbying for a shot at the future hall of famer. Alvarez, a 66-bout veteran at 34, has reached the “Money” Mayweather phase of his near-20-year pro career. Let’s face it, Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs), known to his fans as the “Mexican Monster,” is what a prime, mid-2000s Antonio Margarito was to the aging welterweight version of Floyd – too much pressure, too many punches, too big, too damn tough and too much risk. I won’t be shocked if 2026 is Canelo’s final year as a prizefighter. I wish there were a legitimate Mexican or American star ready to take his place, but alas, the best-known boxer that North America has to offer is a former Disney Channel actor who made his name during the early days of social media and content creation. Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) – whose previous bout, an eight-round decision over 58-year-old Mike Tyson, nearly crashed Netflix – actually has the opportunity to become an even bigger attraction by taking over the May and September holiday weekends that had belonged to Canelo (and to Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez in previous decades). I have a couple dance-partner suggestions for Paul if he does indeed take over the Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day weekend dates: Andy Ruiz – the roly-poly former unified heavyweight champ is Mexican, bilingual, affable and, believe it or not, he’s still got fans despite only fighting three times over the past five years and looking pedestrian at best. Ruiz is also laid-back to his detriment (and Paul’s advantage). He might be past his prime and desperate enough for the payday to play nice with Paul, especially if the 28-year-old influencer fights him under the “Tyson Rules” (eight-round distance, two-minute rounds, 14-ounce
Tyson-Paul was a megaevent, but not the kind Canelo wants to be part of.
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