Saúl 'Canelo' Álvarez Shifts Stance on Facing Mexican Boxers, Keeps Door Open to Fighting Jake Paul

SEATTLE - As Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez, the current face of boxing, continues to prepare for his next fight, media outlets are already speculating about what's next for the Mexican champion.

"Canelo" had refused to face another Mexican boxer in the ring for the past seven years. Things will chance on May 4, as the current undisputed middleweight champion will out everything on the line to face challenger Jaime Munguia.

It seems like "Canelo's" mind has changed in terms of how he looks at fighting a compatriot. Instead of avoiding fights against fellow Mexicans as a way to "show his respect," he has given Munguia an opportunity to dethrone the champion as he has "earned the fight."

During one of the promotional events for the May 4 bout, Canelo seemed honest when asked about the topic. "Yes, I've said I don't want to fight Mexican fighters," Álvarez said at the Beverly Hills Hotel. "But someone respectful like Munguía, someone who has earned this fight, it's something that I'm glad we were able to make happen...this is a great source of pride for me because it's Mexico all over. I'm proud of Munguia to come all the way he has," he added.

"Canelo" (60-2-2, 39 KO) will fight against a Mexican boxer for the first time since 2017, when he faced Julio César Chávez Jr. Munguia, the challenger, will put his undefeated record on the line (43-0, 34 KO) against the undisputed middleweight champion. Should he pull off the upset, an immediate rematch will follow in September, Zanfer Promotions head Fernando Beltrán told Boxing Scene.

According to Eddy Reynoso, this will be the third fight in Álvarez' career where a rematch clause is included, following his bouts against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013 and Chávez Jr. in 2017.

Just a few days later, "Canelo" continued promoting his fight with events and interviews. When he sat down with internet personality Paulo Castillo Chavira, he was asked if a fight with Jake Paul would be in the Mexican's future. "Depending where I am at in my career," he said. "At this point in my career I would have to say no."

Although Álvarez rejects the idea of facing Paul in the near future, he does not close the door to a potential bout at the end of his career, heavily dependent on how much the YouTube sensation can offer to Canelo in terms of money. "I mean, at the end we will see depending how big the purse is," he concluded.