Jake Paul Calls Out Canelo After Crawford, Bivol Silence

Jake Paul is angling for a Canelo Alvarez fight now that the Mexican star's preferred opponents have gone quiet.

Alvarez beat Christian Mbilli by unanimous decision in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, with judges scoring the bout 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110, per MMA Mania. The win restored some credibility after Canelo lost to Terence Crawford last September, but Crawford showed no interest in running it back. The 39-year-old posted a brief congratulations on social media after the Mbilli result and said nothing about Canelo's callout for a rematch.

Bivol Also Ignores Canelo's Challenge

Dmitry Bivol, who defeated Alvarez in 2022, likewise stayed silent on a potential second meeting. Bivol is scheduled to face WBO mandatory challenger Callum Smith in Russia on December 12 and apparently has no appetite for the Canelo sequel.

That opened the door for Paul, who is expected to return from his jaw-breaking loss to Anthony Joshua on Christmas Eve against an opponent yet to be named. "Out of the ring for 13 months but still the same old Canelo," Paul wrote on X. "Respect. Did take a lot of punches though. We will dance my friend, we will dance."

Paul and Canelo nearly fought in May 2025 before Saudi boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh signed Alvarez to a multi-fight deal that killed the matchup. Paul has since fought in Saudi Arabia despite ongoing conflict with Yemen and Iran, which may have put him back in the Kingdom's favor. If Canelo cannot secure Crawford or Bivol by early next year, a Paul fight could serve as a placeholder on the Saudi calendar.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — With Crawford and Bivol ambivalent to Canelo rematch, Jake Paul takes his shot