The highly anticipated clash between boxing icons Saul Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford has taken an unexpected turn in its promotional build-up as Jake Paul gets involved by slamming their pair following their remarkable cordial Saudi Arabia meeting.
Traditionally, fights of this magnitude generate buzz through pointed exchanges and tense confrontations but that was not on display between Canelo and Bud ahead of their September 13 bout.
Both pugilists are known more for their performance inside the ring than for verbal warfare and have kept their interactions civil, leaving fans puzzled, who anticipated a more hostile rivalry.
The calm demeanor reached a new peak on Friday, June 20 when the two fighters were pictured dining together with Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Chairman, Turki Alalshikh.
The image, posted by Ring Magazine, showed the champions seated in friendly proximity. But rather than garnering praise, it drew swift backlash from fans who felt the dinner was too friendly for such a high-stakes showdown, including Paul.
Likened to Messi and Ronaldo
“That’s some goofy s**t,” Paul posted to X.com, formerly Twitter. He later added, “Imagine Messi and Ronaldo grabbing dinner before a legit match against each other.”
The implication was clear – Paul believes such overt friendliness undermines the competitive narrative essential for drawing broader interest, although his particular example isn’t accurate.
Ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, both Messi and Ronaldo were spotted playing a game of chess in a collaboration with Louis Vuitton – an image that earned 41.7 million likes on Instagram and is the fourth-most liked photo on the platform.
“I shared this stage with him [Messi] for 15 years,” Ronaldo said at the 2019 Ballon d’Or ceremony, at the height of their rivalry. “It has never happened before in football.
“It’s an honour. We have not had dinner together yet, but I hope so in the future.”
Ultimately, however, Jake’s comment serves as a pointed reminder that pre-fight build-up serves to stoke emotion, sell tickets, and elevate the magnitude of the event, something Canelo and Crawford are yet to commit to.
However, with still months to go prior to the pair meeting in the ring for what could be the fight of the year, it’s likely that they will eventually step up their war of words as they seek that crucial psychological edge.
Crawford takes first jab at Canelo: What did he say?
Historically, Canelo has been the face of marquee events, often drawing the bigger purse and leading promotional campaigns, and with his connections to the Riyadh Season and a lucrative contract, his influence is undeniable.
However, this is a beat Crawford is keen to change as he asserts his stake in the narrative and seemed to deviate from the diplomatic tone fans have seen so far.
“What’s up, everybody? Just made it to Riyadh,” Crawford said in a video. “Check out the press conference on Ring Social. Crawford-Canelo, not Canelo-Crawford! This Friday!”
His message is clear and a deliberate power move by positioning himself not just as a participant, but as the driving force behind the fight. Will he back it up in the ring?
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