Jake Paul has shared his reaction to Canelo Alvarez returning to the ring with a triumphant victory over Christian Mbilli, while once again setting his sights on a potential blockbuster showdown against the Mexican superstar.
Canelo claimed world honours once again as he defeated Mbilli by unanimous decision in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, capturing the prestigious WBC super-middleweight title in a high-stakes encounter. The bout marked Canelo’s much-anticipated return to the sport following a significant layoff, immediately injecting fresh excitement and intrigue into the 168-pound division.
The fight itself proved to be a compelling tactical battle in its early phases. It appeared to be a fairly competitive affair up until the halfway stage, with Mbilli applying pressure and finding moments of success against the veteran champion. However, Alvarez’s championship experience and elite ring IQ soon took over. Alvarez began to pull away in the later rounds, utilizing his superior defence, crisp counter-punching, and sustained body work to claim a comfortable win on the judges’ scorecards. When the dust settled, the judges scored the bout 117-110, 116-111, and 115-112 in favour of the Mexican icon, cementing yet another defining victory in his legendary career.
With the victory safely secured, attention across the global boxing landscape has already turned to who the Mexican superstar could now take on next as he maps out the remainder of his storied career. Among the names frequently discussed by fans and pundits alike is YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul, a figure who has been linked to a potential cross-generational fight with Canelo over the years as the social media star continues his ambitious journey through the professional boxing ranks.
Following the conclusion of the event in Riyadh, Paul took to social media to give his take on Canelo’s performance against Mbilli, offering words of respect while simultaneously keeping the door open for a future matchup, calling once again for a fight with the newly crowned WBC super-middleweight champion.
Posting on his official social media account, Paul wrote: “Out of the ring for 13 months but still the same old Canelo. Respect. Did take a lot of punches though. We will dance my friend, we will dance.”
Despite Paul’s persistent public callouts and the immense commercial appeal that a bout between the two would undoubtedly generate, it appears unlikely that a showdown between Canelo and Paul will happen anytime soon. "The Problem Child" is currently occupied with his own demanding athletic schedule and is scheduled to make his own high-profile comeback on Christmas Eve in Dubai. That upcoming bout will serve as his first competitive action inside the squared circle since suffering a defeat to former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua last December, meaning Paul’s immediate focus must remain entirely on his winter return rather than a unification or catchweight bout against the undisputed standard-bearer of the super-middleweight division.
As for Alvarez, the immediate future holds multiple high-stakes possibilities as he evaluates his next career moves. Having recaptured the WBC super-middleweight strap, he may look to now target the other world champions currently holding titles at 168 pounds in a bid to become the undisputed champion of the division once again. At the same time, the Mexican icon has also made it clear that he retains unfinished business at the elite level, expressing a clear desire for a rematch with former foe Terence Crawford as he seeks to avenge the defeat he suffered against the pound-for-pound maestro last year.
