Boxing

Dana White Gets Honest On Canelo Alvarez Snubbing Jake Paul For Turki Alalshikh Deal

Dana White has given his reaction to Turki Alalshikh luring Canelo Alvarez away from the Jake Paul fight.
Apratim Banerjee|
IMAGO / Inpho Photography

Canelo Alvarez looked set to take on Jake Paul in a surprising showdown in 2025. However, the rumors fizzled out quickly as the Mexican signed a deal with Turki Alalshikh instead.

Canelo vs Paul is now off and the former is expected to take on Terence Crawford later this year. Paul has since lambasted Canelo on social media.

Turki Alalshikh has also clapped back at Paul, suggesting 'The Problem Child' should fight MrBeast instead. UFC CEO Dana White has now shared his honest take on the saga.

Speaking during the UFC 312 press-conference, White said:

Listen, they [Saudi Arabia] control the sport of boxing right now. I don’t think it’s hard for them to steal anybody from anybody. I don’t know the ins and outs of that deal but I’m sure it’s not too hard to steal somebody away from [Jake Paul and Most Valuable Promotions] to Saudi. Totally different levels. Not even the same universe of levels.
Dana White

Turki Alalshikh has made several massive fights happen in boxing in recent times. Riyadh Seasons has hosted contests like Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk, Fury vs Francis Ngannou, Anthony Joshua vs Ngannou, and more.

Alalshikh recently announced Canelo Alvarez's next fight. The Mexican is aiming to become undisputed again and the journey starts against William Scull on May 3.

Jake Paul, meanwhile, last fought 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November 2024. He earned a decision win. Paul is now looking for another opponent after his desired Canelo fight fell to pieces.

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Apratim Banerjee
APRATIM BANERJEE

Apratim is a Boxing and Soccer reporter for On SI. He has been in the industry for five years, having also worked for The Sporting News, Sportskeeda, EssentiallySports, and more. After coming from an engineering background, he started pursuing a career in sports media. Apratim also holds an MSc. Sport Marketing degree from Loughborough University London and is a keen practitioner of social media and digital marketing. In his spare time, Apratim likes to play an array of sports and practice calisthenics. He is also an avid enthusiast of improving his martial arts skills.