Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has agreed to face James Kirkland in his next fight after the talks for the possible showdown against World Boxing Council middleweight champion Miguel Cotto went down last week.
Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya said earlier this week that they are considering several options for Canelo's next fight, and the Mexican boxing superstar's team announced on Twitter that the Canelo vs Kirkland showdown is a done deal.
Mike Miller, Kirkland's co-manager, also confirmed to BoxingScene on Friday that De La Hoya and Alvarez have already agreed to the Kirkland fight, but the two camps are still finalizing the details of the presumed bout.
"De La Hoya met with Alvarez in San Diego. Canelo Alvarez is on board. Both fighters are now on board," Miller said. "We are hoping to do it May 2, but the details have not been finalized regarding the date."
As Miller stated, the Alvarez-Kirkland fight will likely happen on May 2 as Canelo remains determined to headline a fight card on Cinco de Mayo weekend.
De La Hoya confirmed that they are considering staging the fight on May 2 at Alamodome in San Antonio or at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, but the fight date would be moved if Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. agree to face each other in a super showdown on May 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"We'll know in a few more days exactly what day and what venue the fight will be at, but it will either be Las Vegas or San Antonio," De La Hoya told ESPN. "We're focused on what Canelo is doing, not Mayweather. The kid is firm on fighting in May. But, like I have said, if Mayweather fights Manny Pacquiao on May 2, we will move off the date out of respect for the fans."
Alvarez, who won against Alfredo Angulo and Erislandy Lara last year, was supposed to face Cotto for the Puerto Rican's middleweight title. However, Alvarez and his camp decided to back out of the talks after Cotto declined to sign the fight deal before the deadline they set last week.
