Canelo Alvarez doesn't want to think about a fight with Jake Paul for now, but if the YouTube star can continue to improve he would be open to discussions in two years.
Paul has previously admitted that Alvarez is too big of a step up for him at this point in his novice boxing career, but he would want to fight the pound-for-pound No.1 after getting a few more wins under his belt.
The 25-year-old has just five professional fights under his belt, whilst Alvarez has 60 bouts under his belt heading into his WBA light heavyweight title fight against Dmitry Bivol in Las Vegas this Saturday.
Alvarez was asked about a fight with Paul during a media scrum before his upcoming fight, to which he replied: "The thing I'm thinking is why do you guys ask me about that fight? Maybe in two years we can talk, in two years we'll see."
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"I hope he does a really good job and improves in. boxing, I say this seriously. He brings more fans to boxing and he's not crazy, it's fine to dream for something. You need to put goals in your mind and dream, it's ok. It's good to dream."
Paul has since reacted to Alvarez's comments by stating: "Much respect to Canelo because he's done the impossible and created his own lane and legacy. He can recognise the optimism required to do something that has never been done before," he wrote on Instagram.
"Whilst this interviewer and Eddie Hearn call it delusion, the greats call it self belief. Not everyone inherits their daddy's company like Eddie Hearn. Some of us had to believe in ourselves when we had absolutely nothing and foresee no possible way of overcoming our circumstances other than self belief."
Paul thinks he and Alvarez would be friends in a different pastime and despite repeatedly pushing for a fight against him, the American has respect for Alvarez's boxing accomplishments.
'The Problem Child' wants to fight Alvarez in the last bout of his boxing career and retire after. Paul, who stands at 6'2" and weighs 193lbs for his fights, admits he isn't a better boxer than Alvarez but is "faster" and more "athletic" than him.
"I’m bigger than Canelo, I’m faster than Canelo, I’m more athletic than Canelo. Can I box better? Probably not, but after three years, that’s going to be a big fight. Two of the biggest names in boxing going after each other," he said on ESPN's First Take.
