Canelo Alvarez plays down lucrative David Benavidez and Jake Paul bouts

Canelo Alvarez has distanced himself from media reports suggesting he could share the ring with Mexican rival David Benavidez or social media superstar Jake Paul as part of his four-fight money-spinning agreement with Turki Alalshikh's Riyadh Season.

David Benavidez and Jake Paul might be feeling a sting of disappointment after catching wind of Canelo Alvarez’s latest comments about his future in the ring.

The super-middleweight king has long been tied to a potential showdown with Benavidez, but he’s consistently brushed off the idea, chalking it up to mere speculation.

Meanwhile, Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, has also been gunning for a shot at Canelo, with the American, earlier this year, even claiming to have had a contract lined up to face the champion, that was until Canelo inked a lucrative deal with Turki Alalshikh instead.

Starting May 3, Canelo will embark on a four-fight run with Alalshikh and Riyadh Season, pocketing a hefty payday along the way.

Next month, the three-belt ruler at 168 pounds will take on IBF champ William Scull in Riyadh, aiming to cement his legacy as a two-time undisputed titlist.

But when it comes to matchups with Benavidez or Paul, Canelo appears to be more distant than ever.

In a recent chat with TMZ, he hinted at hanging up the gloves without ever stepping into the ring with either of them. "In the sport of boxing, I already accomplished everything, pretty much everything," the 34-year-old said.

“I fought everybody - I fought all the best and I won a lot of titles in different weight classes. I have been the pound-for-pound king, fighter of the year, everything."

For the pound-for-pound Mexican star, it’s not just about the cash...

"If we are talking about money, it's never enough. But it's not just about money, it's about enjoying everything," he added. "To enjoy what you do and I am still enjoying boxing, which is why I am here.

"I'm not thinking about making this [certain] amount of money, and then I retire - no. I enjoy boxing I'm going to do my thing, and I say always 37, 38, is the moment to go [and retire]."

Looking ahead, Canelo’s next three bouts under Alalshikh’s banner could see him squaring off against light-heavyweight ruler Dmitry Bivol, the victor of this month’s Chris Eubank Jr. v Conor Benn clash, or even British middleweight standout Hamzah Sheeraz, who’s plotting a jump to super-middleweight.

For now, though, Benavidez and Paul might have to settle for watching from the sidelines.

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Shaun Brown

• Jake Paul
• Riyadh Season
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