Mike Chiari@@mikechiariFeatured Columnist IVFebruary 7, 2025

Al Bello/Getty Images for Netflix © 2024

Jake Paul made his first public comments Friday since Canelo Álvarez spurned the opportunity to fight him in favor of a four-fight agreement with Riyadh Season.

In a post on X, Paul took multiple shots at Canelo, writing:

“Breaking news: Canelo Álvarez ducked me. … It’s not surprising when his whole career he has done nothing for the sport of boxing outside the ring. I’m the new face of boxing. You cannot have the biggest fight of 2025 without my name involved. When all of your events tank and lose money you will all realize who the king of the sport is. Twenty-eight years old. Biggest fight in boxing history. My own boss. Not owned. Five years in. All of you felines want to see me fail, but god has other plans. It’s the era of good. The era of the elephant. It’s the era of MVP.”

Per ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, a deal between Paul and Álvarez was being finalized Thursday for a May 3 fight between them in Las Vegas that would have streamed live on Netflix, but Canelo reversed course and made the Riyadh Season deal instead.

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.