By Rick Reeno
Unless Floyd Mayweather Jr. (47-0, 26KOs) intends to fight Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd, there is a possibility that Floyd's upcoming fight will go head to head with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (44-1-1, 31KOs), according to Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya.
Both Mayweather and Canelo are refusing to step away from the lucrative Cinco De Mayo date.
As BoxingScene.com first reported on Saturday, Canelo is exploring his options after Golden Boy was unable to reach an agreement to fight WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto.
Even without Cotto in the opposite corner, De La Hoya makes it clear that Canelo is completely dedicated to fighting on May 2.
There are widespread industry rumors that Mayweather and Cotto will collide in a rematch, likely at a catchweight of 154.5 or 155 - which allows Mayweather the opportunity to capture the WBC title at 160-pounds.
If those rematch rumors turn out to be accurate, that won't necessarily intimidate Canelo from returning on the same date.
One possible scenario could see Mayweather fighting his opponent of choice on Showtime Pay-Per-View and Canelo going head to head by facing his opponent of choice on regular HBO.
That exact scenario happened in 2012, when Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fought Sergio Martinez in the main event of an HBO Pay-Per-View - and Canelo, who refused to step away from his September 15th date, decided to go head to head by facing Josesito Lopez on regular Showtime.
"If they make Mayweather-Pacquiao, then there is going to be change of date - and we will do it out of respect for the fans. People have been waiting for [that fight for] the past seven years, but if it's Mayweather with Cotto or Mayweather with Khan, then we'll see," De La Hoya said.
"We have many options. We'll speak with HBO to determine if it's going to be an event on HBO Pay-Per-View or [regular] HBO. We will be moving the pieces in the coming days," he said.
