In a sport long controlled by gatekeepers, Jake Paul was never supposed to matter. He wasn’t born into boxing royalty. He didn’t come up through the amateur system. He never asked for permission. And yet today, Jake Paul — the YouTuber-turned-fighter, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) with Nakisa Bidarian— have done something boxing’s billionaires couldn’t: they made the sport matter again to an entirely new generation. He’s sold out major arenas. He’s headlined events that have broken global streaming records. He’s elevated fighters like Amanda Serrano, who went from underpaid champion to main-eventing a sold-out Madison Square Garden in the most important women’s fight in boxing history. But success like that doesn’t go unnoticed — especially by those who’ve spent hundreds of millions to control the sport.
Enter Turki Alalshikh
Turki Alashikh is the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and the unelected gatekeeper of boxing’s new economic empire. Backed by his country’s oil wealth, Turki has hosted the world’s biggest fights — Fury vs. Ngannou, Usyk vs. Joshua I and II, and the recent undisputed heavyweight clash, Usyk vs. Fury. II. His cards come with fireworks, glitz, and headlines, and often turn out to be duds. In other words, the firework never materialize. But behind the spectacle lies a problem: people aren’t buying the soul he’s trying to sell.
Tom & Jerry Fights
The Saudi-sponsored events often lack the energy of real fandom. Seats go unfilled. Fighters take massive paydays only to dance around the ring in what even Turki himself calls “Tom & Jerry” performances. The crowds are curated. The fights feel like exhibitions. The outcomes—while official—carry little of the grit that built boxing’s mythos.
And then there’s Jake Paul — doing everything Turki cannot.
While Turki uses money to manufacture moments, Jake Paul has used media savvy and authenticity to build movements. He packs arenas in Dallas, Tampa, Cleveland. His fights pull millions on Netflix. His storytelling connects with Gen Z. His brand isn’t built on state funding — it’s built on belief.
So why is Jake Paul consistently absent from Riyadh Season? Because he’s proven that boxing doesn’t need oil money to thrive. It just needs relevance.
Sources close to MVP confirm that multiple overtures to participate in Saudi-hosted events were either denied or ghosted. Fighters under MVP’s banner, mostly women, are quietly excluded [Saudi Arabia is not the most enlightened place when it comes to female boxing and women's rights in general]. Paul himself is never invited, never mentioned, never part of the picture. This isn’t oversight — it’s orchestration.
The Canelo Coup
The final blow came in February, 2025 when Jake Paul was on the brink of finalizing a fight with world super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez — a match that would’ve combined Jake’s media power with boxing’s most respected name. The deal was nearly done. A non-discosure agreement was reportedly exchanged in order to keep negotiations secret and confidential for all parties involved. The fight would’ve streamed globally on Netflix. It was the kind of crossover event that could change the sport forever.
And then? Turki stepped in, allegedly enticing Canelo with an irresistible package — enormous money, long-term licensing, and promises of so called elite opponents. But elite names such as David Benavidez, David Morrell and Dmitry Bivol seem to be absent at Canelo’s insistence. So much for “elite fighters.” Canelo, who once publicly told Turki, “I do things on my terms,” found himself slowly pulled into the empire he’d once resisted.
Jake was out. The story was buried. The fans would never know what they missed.
But the most shocking twist? Canelo may have just walked into something far worse.
In the next installment (Part 5), we'll consider a shadow alliance, a silent betrayal, and the trap Canelo never saw coming. Stay tuned for Part 5: The Trap Canelo Never Saw Coming.
