In a dramatic turn of events, Mexican superstar boxer Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has signed a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season, spearheaded by His Excellency, Turki Alalshik, head of both Riyadh Season and the General Entertainment Authority.
Alalshik, in a series of social media posts, announced the monumental agreement, stating, "Don’t mess with the lion... four fights for Canelo with Riyadh Season… The deal is done… A lion doesn’t lose sleep over opinion of a sheep… Fear the lion not the jungle."
The deal throws a curveball into the boxing world, following weeks of speculation about Canelo's next move.
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After initial reports of a May showdown against Terence Crawford in Las Vegas, and subsequent rumours of a clash with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, Canelo has instead chosen to partner with Riyadh Season for a series of high-profile bouts, putting any previous plans on hold indefinitely.
Although the fight card is yet to be confirmed and unveiled, the first fight will take place in Riyadh in May, with potential opponents including Jermall Charlo and Bruno Surace. This fight will round out the high-octane events of the extended and ever-popular Riyadh Season 2024.
Canelo will then return to the ring in September for the highly anticipated Crawford clash, which will take place in Las Vegas as part of the Riyadh Season agreement.
The deal includes two further fights in Riyadh: one in February 2026 and another in October of the same year. Potential opponents for these bouts are rumoured to include massive names such as Dmitry Bivol, Hamzah Sheeraz, and Chris Eubank Jr.
