By Edward Chaykovsky
Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (45-1-1, 32KOs) has built a reputation for accepting tough assignments in the ring. He fought Austin Trout and Erislandy Lara during periods when his promoters were trying to push him to take options with less resistance.
There are others, like Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who are critical of Canelo's accomplishments, like winning his first world title, at 154, over blown up welterweight Matthew Hatton.
On November 21, Canelo will challenge WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33KOs) at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
The fight takes place at catch-weight of 155-pounds.
The World Boxing Council has ordered the Cotto-Canelo winner to make a mandatory defense against IBO/WBA/IBF middleweight champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin (34-0, 31KOs).
Canelo has no interest in facing Golovkin at the middleweight limit of 160, but he's open to taking that fight at 155. Golovkin and his team are not looking to take that fight at any weight lower than the middleweight limit.
The Mexican star wants to test himself against Golovkin, at middleweight. He says his body has not yet developed into the proper structure of a middleweight fighter - despite weighing 167.8-pounds at the WBC's recent 30-day weighin - and Golovkin weighing 165 at the 30-day weighin for his recent win over David Lemieux.
"It’s a fight that could happen. I’ve built a reputation for myself that I don’t run from anybody. I want to give the fans the best fights out there. I’ll see once it comes to that day if the opportunity arises," Canelo told The Los Angeles Times.
“There’s no secret that me and Miguel are not 160-pounders. Our body structure is not there yet. I would love to fight ‘GGG’ when the time and opportunity comes, [I'm] more than willing and able to ... when the time comes.”
