De La Hoya: Canelo vs. Cotto - The Public Deserves It!

By Miguel Rivera

If Saul "Canelo" Alvarez overcomes the challenge of James Kirkland on May 9th in Houston, Texas - Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya would like to match the Mexican superstar against WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto.

De La Hoya had attempted to make the fight earlier this year, with both sides being unable to reach a financial agreement. After those negotiations fell apart, Canelo quickly signed on to face Kirkland on May 9th. Cotto will defend his title in June against an opponent to be determined.

If both fighters come away with victories in the upcoming returns, De La Hoya will attempt to make that fight for the fall.

"I hope so [that it happens]. Can you imagine 'Canelo' against Cotto? That would be a great battle, a great fight, like Salvador Sanchez vs. Gomez...that boxing rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico - fights that filled us with emotion because we knew we were going to receive a good fight," De La Hoya told ESPN Deportes. "That fight has to happen, because the public deserves it."