Jake Paul has issued a cryptic response to reports Canelo Alvarez's next opponent won't go down well with boxing 'purists'.
The YouTube star has himself frequently called to face the pound-for-pound king throughout his short boxing career and has included him in his own world title plans.
Alvarez is the undisputed super-middleweight champion and is considering moves to cruiserweight and light-heavyweight.
A report from ESPN suggested Alvarez's next opponent will not be a fight that hardcore boxing fans "will like" which prompted a 'cold face' emoji response from Paul on Twitter.
It appeared to be a veiled dig at the Mexican star's level of opponent rather than any kind of message which could suggest Paul and Alvarez will meet in the ring.
There is little to no prospect of a governing body sanctioning a fight between the two.
Alvarez has previously refused to rule out any bout with Paul while the latter has spoken of his desire to prove the world wrong by defeating Alvarez and is confident of doing so despite the sport's leading star having lost just once to Floyd Mayweather.
The YouTube star posted a tweet to continue to escalate a feud with the Mexican after his recent victory over Tyron Woodley.
He has also previously aimed digs at Alvarez by claiming he can't "sell PPV's" and vowing to "eat him alive" in a potential fight.
Paul believes that beating Alvarez will help him reach the pinnacle of boxing but has admitted a new-found respect for his rival.
"I think he's great," Paul said during an interview for In Depth with Graham Bensinger. "I respect him.
"I think we've had words back-and-forth and he says I need to work on my boxing ability, which I agree with of course, 100 per cent I do.
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"I've really come to like his personality actually, I think when he started doing more media, showing his life behind the scenes, he never really had done that before.
"I watched [Bensinger's interview with Alvarez] and I realised he's a good guy and maybe in a different lifetime we would probably be friends. However, I still want to fight him, I still think it would be a massive fight and I think my path is leading to that."
Alvarez was expected to make a switch to cruiserweight to face WBC champion Ilunga Makabu after the organisation sanctioned the defence.
The pair faced off with fans questioning whether Alvarez could successfully make the weight hike and if this was the right move to continue his boxing legacy.
Any switch to 200lbs is likely to be inspired by Alvarez's trainer Eddy Reynoso who proposed the plan to his charge.
The Mexican has also been challenged by Russian pair Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol who are ready to face the Mexican if he opts to return at light-heavyweight.
