Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is happy to see Jake Paul bringing boxing to a new audience.
Jake Paul defeated Ben Askren two weekends back, delivering a first-round knockout and moving to a 3-0 professional record, albeit against some fairly tame opponents.
Eddie Hearn, who is promoting Canelo’s fight with Billy Joe Saunders on May 8 shown live on DAZN (except in Mexico), has warned that unless boxing adapts, celebrity fights will start to take over the traditional sport. Some hardcore fans are also turned off the novelty events, but with suggestions that Paul earned over $10 million for his efforts, the fights are not going away unless and until the audience dwindles.
Canelo is content that Paul and his brother Logan are helping new spectators find their way to the sport.
Speaking to ESPN Deportes, he explained: "The truth is that he [Jake] obviously brings another type of audience, the boxing audience is different, we bring the boxing audience.
“And personally, for me, another audience that may not see much boxing but wants to see Canelo, he brings that other audience... YouTubers, younger people and it's good that people get to know boxing on the other hand.
Canelo is now focusing on his own fight in early may against Saunders. The Briton is bringing his WBO title to the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and Canelo will be putting up his WBC and WBA title. The Mexican then hopes to fight Caleb Plant in September for his IBF belt, assuming he defeats Saunders.
“I feel happy because we broke the presale record, I feel very good, grateful to the people and I hope they enjoy this fight. I feel happy, motivated, I am here for that, to make history and this for me is very important, it is what motivates me to continue,” Canelo said of his upcoming bout.