By Miguel Rivera

The negotiations continue to finalize the remaining details for the fall HBO Pay-Per-View showdown between WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto and challenger Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

The two sides were considering the dates of November 7th and November 21 - with the MGM Grand and the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas and New York's Madison Square Garden as the three venues in the running to host.

The date of November 7th has now been ruled out, according to Cotto's legal adviser Gaby Penagaricano. The MGM Grand is also apparently being ruled out as well.

The MGM's sister site, the Mandalay Bay, has now entered the race to host the fight.

In 1999, the Mandalay Bay hosted the great Mexico vs. Puerto Rico battle when Oscar De La Hoya traded punches with Felix 'Tito' Trinidad in a welterweight unification.

"We have been in constant conversations every day. The date of November 7th is already being forgotten, "said Peñagarícano to ESPN Deportes. 

"So everything is on track, as we said before, for November 21. We have discussed that it could take place in both New York and Las Vegas. We still have the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas as an option, but equally we have another venue. What it is no longer considered is the MGM Grand, but we could also make it at the Mandalay Bay, a location where Oscar fought Tito and a huge opportunity for the rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico. But there is still nothing definite. Ourselves, Golden Boy Promotions and Roc Nation Sports - we are focused on maximizing everything in this negotiation."