Mexico City/Riyadh – Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has agreed to a four-fight deal with Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season, setting the stage for a highly anticipated super-fight with American Terence Crawford in September.
Alvarez will first compete in Saudi Arabia in May before facing Crawford in September, followed by two more bouts in Saudi Arabia in 2026.
“The deal is done,” Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s general entertainment authority, announced on X on Thursday.
Four-weight world champion Alvarez, who holds the WBA, WBC, and WBO super-middleweight titles, responded, “Let’s go brother.”
Negotiations for the Alvarez-Crawford bout had appeared to stall earlier on Thursday, with Alvarez reportedly in talks with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul for a separate May fight. However, Alvarez ultimately opted for the Saudi deal.
Crawford, the first man to have been undisputed in two weight classes, has won all 41 of his professional fights. However, he will be an underdog against the much heavier Alvarez.
“I’m waiting on Canelo in September and going to shock the world in Riyadh Season,” Crawford posted on X.
