In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the boxing world, pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez has inked an extraordinarily lucrative multi-fight deal to stage his next four bouts in the boxing hotbed of Saudi Arabia. The groundbreaking pact, orchestrated by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, will see the Mexican superstar pocket a colossal sum for a quartet of fights in the Middle Eastern nation, including a title unification and a long-awaited superfight.
Canelo’s Saudi Arabia Superfight Series
Alvarez, the consensus #1 boxer on the planet, will kick off his Saudi sojourn on May 3rd in Riyadh, where he’ll face undefeated Cuban stylist William Scull with the aim of regaining his undisputed super middleweight championship. The 34-year-old currently holds the WBC, WBA and WBO belts at 168 pounds, while Scull claimed the vacant IBF strap last year.
Should Canelo prevail as expected against Scull, he’ll then turn his attention to a mouthwatering September 13th superfight against welterweight ruler Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. That blockbuster bout, which would determine an undisputed king in a second weight class for Alvarez, is the centerpiece of his Saudi deal.
Riyadh Rematches & Rising Stars
Beyond the Crawford clash, Canelo is committed to two more appearances in Saudi Arabia in 2026 as part of the kingdom’s grand Riyadh Season event series. Prospective opponents for those dates include:
- Dmitry Bivol – Alvarez is eager to avenge his 2022 loss to the Russian light heavyweight star
- Hamzah Sheeraz – The winner of Sheeraz’s middleweight title fight with Carlos Adames may get the Canelo call
- Chris Eubank Jr – The charismatic Brit and son of a legend is on Canelo’s shortlist
Record-Breaking Revenues
While the exact financials of the agreement have not been disclosed, it’s rumored to be among the most valuable individual athlete contracts in boxing history. Alvarez, already one of the top earning prizefighters ever, is set to substantially elevate his net worth over the next 18 months.
I’m thrilled to partner with Saudi Arabia to expand boxing’s reach to new audiences and showcase our great sport. I can’t wait to make history with this exciting series of fights.
– Canelo Alvarez
Saudi Arabia’s Boxing Ascent
For Saudi Arabia, securing Alvarez is a monumental coup that stamps its status as a major player on the global boxing scene. As the nation accelerates its Vision 2030 program to diversify economically and enhance its international standing, sports and entertainment have emerged as key pillars – with boxing as a centerpiece.
With an Alvarez-led roster of fight cards now on the docket, combined with premium international events in other sports and first-class infrastructure, Saudi Arabia has solidified its stature as an ascending epicenter for the hurt business. Canelo’s contract is a massive statement that underscores the kingdom’s burgeoning influence in the fight game.
Riding Off Into The Desert Sunset
As he enters the final phase of his illustrious ring career, Alvarez now embarks on a trailblazing Middle Eastern epilogue to his Hall of Fame journey. At age 34, with a record of 62-2-2 and world titles in four divisions, the Guadalajara native will look to further burnish his legend in the Saudi sands.
From his anticipated unification against Scull to the legacy-defining Fight of the Year favorite versus Crawford, Canelo’s Saudi excursion promises a fistic feast for the ages. With two more mega-events on tap in the subsequent year, Alvarez is setting the stage for a memorable final chapter in his storied prizefighting saga.
