By Miguel Rivera

Mexico’s Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs), 25-years-old, has been thinking about fighting Miguel Cotto for the last three years.

On November 21 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Canelo will get the opportunity when he challenges Cotto (40-4, 33KOs) for the WBC middleweight championship at a catch-weight of 155-pounds.

Golden Boy Promotions, who promote Canelo, had plans to make the fight in 2013, but Cotto unexpectedly lost a twelve round decision to Austin Trout in December 2012. Then there were plans to make the fight in 2014, but Cotto passed on a $10 million dollar offer to instead face Sergio Martinez for the WBC crown. 

They were trying to make a deal earlier this year. Those discussions fell apart as well, but now the fight is finalized and a few short months away.

"It's been about three years that my group, my team, we've been thinking about this fight.  And obviously from three years on, as it moved closer with every fight, the fans started clamoring it and talking about it.  So it's been on my mind for about three years," Canelo said.

"Three years ago [I knew I could win]. Three years ago when it first came in mind, because I knew I could win.  That's why it came to my mind.  It didn't happen for whatever reasons back then.  But now the fight's here and we're very happy and anxious and grateful and thank God."