Saul Alvarez is aware that the highly anticipated showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. could happen on May 2, but Canelo is determined to face Miguel Cotto on Cinco de Mayo weekend next year.
Mayweather fought on Cinco de Mayo weekend in the past three years, but Alvarez insisted that he is working with Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya to schedule his fights on Mexican holidays in May and September because those fight dates should feature Mexican boxers.
"It's very important to have the support of Oscar De La Hoya. I want to fight in May and I'm going to do it," Alvarez said via BoxingScene. "It's a very important date for me and I will not move from it. I want to retake the Mexican dates because they are very important to us. I'm going to fight in May and September."
Alvarez, who is coming off a split decision win against Erislandy Lara in July, is considering several opponents for his next fight, but a showdown with Cotto, the reigning World Boxing Council middleweight champion, is their top priority next year.
Alvarez knows that a fight against Cotto will not be easy because the Puerto Rican has shown improvements since hiring Freddie Roach as his trainer, but Canelo reiterated that he will not hesitate to face him to give boxing fans a treat in 2015.
"He is a great champion, he is a fighter who has a lot of history, a well known name. He is champion in another division," Alvarez said of Cotto. "I love it because it's a natural fight. People ask about it, because it's a fight where the styles are going to work together very well and I would love to fight him to give the people a good battle."
Golden Boy Promotions, who has a promotional deal with Alvarez, are in talks with Top Rank Promotions for the Canelo-Cotto fight. When asked to give a message to Cotto, Canelo declined to give one, saying that he just wants Cotto to sign a contract and let their fist do the talking next year.
"I do not want to send any message to Cotto. I usually do not. A negotiation is not done through print," Alvarez said. "It will be a very important fight and that is what people want to see. It will probably be at 155 pounds, because that is what Cotto's people have asked for but I am completely ready."
