After brushing off the idea of stepping into the ring with an influencer boxer back in 2023, Canelo Alvarez came very close to actually sealing a fight with Jake Paul in February, to the complete shock of everyone. The talks were heating up for a May showdown, with a jaw-dropping $100 million purse on the table. But as with most things in boxing—and life—plans change. Canelo pivoted at the last minute, opting instead to ink a blockbuster four-fight deal with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, chucking the Jake Paul bout straight into the bin. For The Problem Child, it wasn’t just a missed payday—it was a golden opportunity lost. Instead, he’s now set to face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28th at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

Meanwhile, Canelo isn’t looking back. He’s also gearing up for the first chapter of that new mega-deal—a fight for the undisputed super middleweight crown against unbeaten William Scull. With just two days to go, the Mexican superstar made his grand arrival in Riyadh. And when asked about Jake Paul’s next fight, Canelo Alvarez revealed what he thought of their match-up.

Canelo Alvarez confirms what William Scull will eat on fight night

A few hours ago, Canelo Alvarez was caught up in an interview with Seconds Out. And surely, he had a few sharp—and slightly cheeky—words ahead of his fight this weekend, especially when asked about his opponent William Scull’s fiery pre-fight trash talk. So, during the grand arrivals, in a warning to Canelo, Scull had said, “I don’t want to be disrespectful to anybody, but I’m here to win and that’s it. I’m going to eat him.” So when asked about his response to William Scull’s warning, Canelo didn’t miss a beat. “I have my kids here,” he said with a grin, “So no, I can’t say what he’s gonna eat. Sorry. But he’s gonna eat punches. That way he’s gonna eat.”

Right after, the Mexican star was asked for his thoughts on the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs Jake Paul bout now that he’s out of the picture. Despite the animosity with Jake Paul, Canelo kept it respectful but honest. The 34-year-old believes that if his compatriot trains well and is in good condition, it’ll be easy for him to beat Jake Paul. “Obviously Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. And I hope he wins,” he said. “He prepares himself really good and he take care seriously and beat him.” It’s a cautious endorsement—but clearly, Canelo’s rooting for the veteran.

Anyway, while Canelo Alvarez may be looking down his nose at Jake Paul, it seems the 11-1 boxer has some strong words of his own about what’s coming next.

Same age, same stage—So why’s Jake Paul still the villain?

A few days back, Jake Paul posted a 39-second clip on X through his MVP account. And looks like the 28-year-old had some fiery words for the critics. Drawing a comparison to Paddy Pimblett’s recent TKO win over 39-year-old Michael Chandler, Jake Paul pointed out what he sees as a clear double standard. “Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is a former world champion, a cruiserweight world champion. The same weight as me, the same size as me, and 20 years more pro boxing experience than me,” Paul emphasized.

“Last week, Paddy Pimblett beat Michael Chandler, and the whole world lost their mind, but not a single person mentioned Michael Chandler’s age. That’s because he’s still within his prime ages, the same age as Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. If people didn’t have a problem with Paddy, then why do they have a problem with me? So, when I beat him, don’t even try to cry about his age,” Paul asserted.

It’s clear Jake Paul’s not just fighting for a win—he’s fighting to flip the narrative. And the same goes for his opponent. After a decision win over Uriah Hall last year, and a disappointing loss to Anderson Silva in 2021 (whom Jake Paul has already beaten in 2022), Chavez Jr. now sees this fight as a shot at redemption—and maybe, just maybe, a way to claw back some pride.

What adds even more spice? Chavez Jr. has made it known he’s motivated by revenge—specifically, to make up for the loss Paul handed Mike Tyson in their controversial fight last year. So both men have something to prove, and neither wants to walk away empty-handed.

With the stakes sky-high, the question now is simple: who do you see getting their hand raised at the Honda Center—Jake Paul, the disruptor, or Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the veteran seeking redemption?