Jake Paul has hinted he will return to fight in July in New York despite reports he could fight Canelo Alvarez in May.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer has teased an imminent announcement of his next fight, for the first since his victory over Mike Tyson in a mega event in November.

His commercial draw and ambitions in the ring are growing and Paul has been linked with a number of potential opponents including a rematch with Tommy Fury, and an audacious attempt to lure Alvarez in the ring.

Reports from ESPN Knockout analyst Julius Julianis surprisingly indicated that the pair had agreed a deal to meet in May, which could land on Alvarez’s traditional ‘Cinco De Mayo’ fight date.

Should Paul vs Alvarez happen, it would likely serve as a tune-up fight for his pound-for-pound battle with Terence Crawford, with widespread reports suggesting the fight is agreed for September in Las Vegas.

But things don’t entirely add up with Paul’s recent social media activity as he seemed to confirm his own return date.

He posted on X: “It’s time. Saturday July 5. New York, New York.”

Should Paul be returning on July 5, it would pour cold water on any showdown with the pound-for-pound great.

This is because Alvarez would be unable to face Paul in July, when a deal has been agreed to face Crawford just two months later in September.

It would also be a bold move from the unified 168lbs champion to abandon his tradition of fighting on the Mexican bank holiday weekends each year in May and September.

Paul has hinted that his next outing will be his toughest yet, posting footage of himself returning to training at his gym in Puerto Rico.

The ‘Problem Child’ has always suggested he wants to take on the challenge of trying to beat Alvarez, a modern era great who has shared the ring with the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Gennady Golovkin.

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Alvarez can’t fight Paul and Crawford if the former returns in JulyCredit: Getty
Paul has limited experience against credible opponents, and any showdown is highly unlikely to be sanctioned for any of Alvarez’s 168lbs belts.

The American’s advisor Nakisa Bidarian previously suggested the fight was a possibility, but insisted several hurdles would need to be overcome.

“We just put on the biggest event since the advent of cable for combat sports,” Bidarian told the Ariel Helwani Show.

“And so no matter what fighter you are, you have to look at that and say ‘That is a pretty special moment, that is a pretty special platform’.

“Jake Paul doesn’t need Canelo from a fan perspective nor from a belt perspective because they are not going to fight for the belts Canelo holds.

“Canelo certainly doesn’t need Jake Paul to make money either.

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Crawford is set be Canelo’s rival in SeptemberCredit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom
“For me, it has to be more than that. It has to be a desire to once again have the world stop and pay attention to this beautiful sport of boxing.

“Have the world look at it and say ‘Wow! Boxing is back’… the hurdle is not money.”

Either way it promises to be a big year for fighters.

Alvarez could face the biggest commercial year of his career if he was to fight both Crawford and Paul, but he has his eyes on legacy in the sport he holds supreme talent.

Paul wants to prove the boxing world wrong, and any clash with Alvarez would be a unique opportunity, but one in whom he would be a huge underdog.

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