On Friday, Jake Paul criticized Canelo Álvarez shortly after talks for a major fight seemed to fall apart.

“Canelo Alvarez is ducking me and has become an owned slave, disregarding the pride of the Mexican people who support him in the U.S.,” Paul posted on X, previously Twitter. “It’s not unexpected since his entire career, he hasn’t contributed anything to the sport of boxing outside of the ring.”

MVP Promotions, which Paul co-founded with partner Nakisa Bidarian, released a statement indicating that Paul was “deep in negotiations” for a high-profile fight. According to ESPN, Álvarez rejected the potential deal and opted for an agreement with Saudi Arabian stakeholders instead.

Turki Alalshikh, who chairs Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, publicized that Álvarez has secured a four-fight contract with Riyadh Season. Alalshikh mentioned the inaugural fight is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, in May, but the opponent has yet to be revealed.

Canelo Álvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) is recognized as the biggest star in boxing, while Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) has proclaimed himself “the new face of boxing.” He also stated, “You can’t have the biggest fight of 2025 without me. When all your events flop and lose money, you will see who truly reigns in this sport.”

Paul pointed out he is 28 years old and coming off a victory against Mike Tyson—“The biggest fight in boxing history,” he wrote on X—adding, “I’m my own boss. Not owned. After five years in the game, all of you doubters want to see me fail, but fate has other plans. This is the era of the good. The era of the elephant. It’s the MVP era.”

ESPN reported on Thursday that the two boxers were on the verge of finalizing a deal, but later stated that Canelo had opted out of the potential match. The fight was expected to take place over the Cinco de Mayo weekend in Las Vegas, as disclosed by MVP Promotions.

“We are still in ongoing discussions with multiple high-profile opponents and remain dedicated to hosting the biggest fights and most thrilling events while collaborating with partners that align with our values and commitment to boxing and its athletes,” the statement included.

MVP Promotions has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the negotiations with Álvarez.

Turki Alalshikh has announced that Álvarez has signed a four-fight agreement with Riyadh Season, with the first match scheduled to occur in Riyadh in May.

This leaves Paul looking for an opponent more than two and a half months after his unanimous decision win over Tyson on November 15.

“Jake Paul isn’t going anywhere, nor is MVP,” stated the MVP Promotions. “We will continue to shake up the boxing world on our own terms.”