By Jake Donovan

A matchup that has been two years in the making, Miguel Cotto and Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez are finally ready to collide in the ring.

Many fans and boxing experts consider Saturday's middleweight championship bout - which will be contested at a maximum catchweight of 155 lbs. - to perfectly encapsulate the storied boxing rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico. The latest chapter headlines a four-fight HBO Pay-Per-View telecast live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. 

Cotto (40-4, 33KOs) attempts the second defense of his World middleweight champion. He won the crown with a 10th round stoppage of Sergio Martinez last June, becoming the first ever fighter from Puerto Rico to claim titles in four separate weight classes. 

Previous title reigns came at super lightweight, welterweight and super welterweight. 

His lone defense of the lineal middleweight crown came in June, knocking out former titlist Daniel Geale in four rounds. The bout was his only defense of the WBC title, as the Mexico-based sanctioning body stripped Cotto of the belt earlier this week for failure to agree to pay the necessary sanctioning fees. 

The green belt remains at stake for Alvarez, though Cotto is still recognized as the lineal champion and will retain such honors with a win. Should Alvarez emerge victorious, he will not only claim the WBC belt but also gain recognition as the first-ever boxer from Mexico to win the lineal middleweight crown. 

Alvarez (45-1-1, 32KOs) - a former super welterweight titlist - comes in on the heels of a violent 3rd round knockout of James Kirkland in May. The bout marked his triumphant return to HBO after a five fight stint with Showtime, celebrated in grand fashion with more than 30,000 in attendance and 2.1 million home viewers.  

His previous five fights aired on Showtime, producing both the best and worst moments of a career already 10 years old. Alvarez - who turned pro at age 15 - scored his biggest win to date in April '13, edging Austin Trout in their super welterweight title unification bout. 

The moment was followed by his first super fight, colliding with Floyd Mayweather in Sept. '13. The event served at the time as the most lucrative in boxing history, though also providing Alvarez with his lone career loss to date in dropping a 12-round decision. 

Three straight wins have followed, all coming just outside the super welterweight limit. The 25-year old red-headed Mexican returned with a 10th round stoppage of Alfredo Angulo last March, followed by a hard-fought 12-round nod over Erislandy Lara last July before returning this past May in the aforementione knockout victory over Kirkland to set up Saturday's superfight with Cotto. 

Read on to see how the staff at BoxingScene.com envisions the World middleweight title fight playing out in Las Vegas.

BOXINGSCENE.COM STAFF PREDICTIONS: MIGUEL COTTO vs. SAUL 'CANELO' ALVAREZ

Miguel Assuncao (Alvarez Dec.): I think Canelo will impose himself in the early rounds and have enough to manage Cotto in the second half of the fight.

Ryan Bivins (Cotto Dec.): Conventional wisdom says the younger Canelo wears the older Cotto down over time, but that would require Canelo to be a pressure fighter. He's not. Any guy that has the audacity to try to outbox Mayweather without applying heavy pressure or punch activity is simply deluded by his own abilities. Cotto is a better technician than people give him credit for. Plus he's seen everything that Canelo has to offer. The fight with resemble a chess match and Cotto's experience will get him over the top.

Shaun Brown (Alvarez TKO10): A great looking fight on paper. One that will have its moments of excitement when both eventually exchange but this is Cotto's farewell. A last look at a great Puerto Rican who will be overwhelmed by the Mexican forcing the referee to jump in around round 10. 

Ryan Burton (Alvarez TKO8): I think we will have an explosive fight for 3-4 rounds and then The younger and stronger will begin to wear down Cotto with his more precise punches. Cotto will fight on but the wear and tear he has accumulated over the years will lead to a stoppage, possibly on cuts. 

Jake Donovan (Cotto Dec.): The extra weight Alvarez carries into the ring tonight could either lead to his simply manhandling the much smaller Cotto, or affecting his stamina down the stretch - if it gets that far. Cotto winning this fight is entirely dependent on the level of discipline he's willing to exude, namely avoiding the temptation to brawl. It could result in less action than most anticipate, but if effective it will prove to deliver the crowning moment of his storied career. 

Stephen "Breadman" Edwards (Alvarez Dec.): Canelo takes a controversial decision to win the middleweight title.

Michael Gibbons (Alvarez KO6): My heart wants Cotto but mind says 'Canelo' is too big and fast. Undoubtedly Cotto will try to catch Canelo in some exchanges and end up on the worse end of those exchanges. Canelo is starting to peak in his career and I don't think anyone south of 160lbs can exchange with him.

Chris Glover (Alvarez Dec.): An excellent contest between two of the premier light middleweights on the planet. Could Cotto's age play a factor for or against him? It's an interesting question. Will Canelo Alvarez properly come of age and beat the Puerto Rican legend? I believe this fight is fascinating as there are so many factors to consider from both sides.

Peter Lim (Alvarez KO10): Canelo-Cotto will be more one-sided and nowhere as electric as the pre-fight hype has let on. As excellent a trainer as Freddie Roach is, he is no miracle worker. Cotto is not the born-again youthful fighter he looked like against Sergio Martinez and Daniel Geale as both opponents were severely compromised; Martinez was reduced to a one-legged fighter for most of the bout and Geale was depleted from having to melt down to the 157-pound catch weight imposed by Cotto. Utilizing his signature jolting jabs and hooks to the body, Cotto is competitive early on but is exposed by the fresher Alvarez as a fighter slightly past his prime. Canelo’s fluid combinations, punctuated by left hooks to the body, take a cumulative toll leaving Cotto a bloody and swollen mess. As Canelo begins to land with impunity, either the referee or Roach intervenes to end the massacre. 

George Ogier (Alvarez late TKO): Many people seem to be leaning towards Miguel Cotto in this fight due to his greater experience. Whilst it is true that Cotto is probably ahead of Canelo in terms ring generalship the older man also has many more miles on the clock as a result. The Puerto Rican has been in some genuinely bruising encounters and they take their toll. Canelo is the bigger man with a considerable reach advantage and in a fight where neither man is likely to take a backwards step, both attributes will be key. Cotto probably has the edge in speed but his punches won’t unduly bother his Mexican adversary. Cotto is coming off three KO victories however it was hardly a who’s who list of opponents, particularly when you consider how far Sergio Martinez has slipped. This is a fantastic fight and Cotto, as usual will give his all. This time though I don’t think it’ll be enough as Canelo will pressure him and eventually chop him down. 

Takahiro Onaga (Alvarez TKO7): Cotto's got the legacy of a great but the miles on the clock too, I think Canelo will be too strong and too powerful for the weary Puerto Rican. Cotto will have some early success but not last too much more than halfway through the fight.

Cliff Rold (Alvarez KO): Younger, bigger, and with thus far a better chin. Cotto is going to make him earn it but the uppercut of Alvarez is a big weapon here as is an accurate jab. Cotto doesn't really want to be the middleweight champ. That won't be an issue after Saturday.

Victor Salazar (Cotto Dec.): I think Cotto will be more fleet off foot and box his way to a decision.

Reynaldo "El Hombre Mas Famoso" Sanchez (Alvarez Dec.): Cotto needs to win the break minute to have a UD in their favor; his best chance to win is by KO. Canelo's weight tonight will be the difference and difficulties. The atmosphere indicates us that all the conditions are in Canelo's favor but beware with a convenient draw.

Alexey Sukachev (Alvarez KO9): Cotto will look good at the start. using his speed and experience to avoid Alvarez. As soon as Canelo connects with a juicy blow, Cotto will engage him and will pay an expensive price, slowly being broken down by power of the Mexican.

Totals:
Alvarez - 12
Cotto - 3

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox