By Miguel Rivera

Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (45-1-1, 32KOs) was gunning for a career defining opportunity against Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33KOs) for a long time. He says the WBC middleweight championship which Cotto owns was secondary.

Canelo tried to get Cotto in the ring in 2013, 2014 and earlier this year. A deal was eventually reached a few months ago.

Their bout is taking place on November 21 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. HBO Pay-Per-View will carry the bout.

There has been some criticism over the fight taking place at a catch-weight of 155-pounds. Cotto, by way of his victory over Sergio Martinez, is the lineal champion of the middleweight division. The winner of the bout has been ordered to face mandatory challenger Gennady "GGG" Golovkin next, but neither fighter wants to face him at the full middleweight limit.

"The fight was agreed to at 155 because neither of us are middleweights. He wanted it to be for his middleweight championship, but at 155," Canelo told ESPN Deportes Radio.

"I know I have a great responsibility. He's been in a lot of big fights. Here in the gym is where that responsibility is handled and that is what I've being doing for November 21."

"I have spent almost two and half months training. I feel ready. I'm Just waiting for the moment, I'm calm and focused on what lies ahead. We are almost at 100 percent. Right now we are finalizing [training] stage for strength. A week later will enter the stage for our speed and we're working as we go. We have focused on everything that might possibly occur inside the ring. We are focusing on defense, movement, combinations, on speed. This is a very tough fight."