By Miguel Rivera
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (46-1-1, 32KOs) has finished off the most lucrative year of his career.
He started off in May before a packed crowd at Minute Maid Park in Texas, and had a very impressive knockout victory of dangerous James Kirkland in three rounds.
Last month at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Canelo secured the biggest victory of his career with a twelve round unanimous decision over Puerto Rican veteran Miguel Cotto. The victory gave him the vacant WBC middleweight championship, which made Canelo a two-division world champion.
The next fight for his career will take place on the date he's wanted for the last few years, falling on Cinco De Mayo weekend (May 7th). Canelo was unable to get that date for the last three years with Floyd Mayweather Jr. electing to fight on that weekend since 2012. Mayweather retired from the sport in September and that decision has allowed Canelo, the biggest superstar in Mexico, to easily step in.
Everyone hopes Canelo will go forward with a fall unification with his middleweight rival, IBO/WBA/IBF champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin.
"This has been a very good year for my career, but I can't base everything on a single fight. Obviously the fight with Cotto was great for me, and not just for me but for those around me, to everyone who supported me and I think I took ​​a big step in my career after beating Miguel Angel Cotto," said Canelo.
At only 25-years-old, Canelo has promised to be a force in the sport for a long time.
"I think I am now more of a mature fighter in the ring and a more solid fighter, which provides me with the experience to continue in this sport for many years."
