Saul “Canelo” Alvarez knows a big fight when he sees one and the Mexican pulled no punches in admitting that he “craves” for such high-profile bouts including the one he’s involved in later this year against a big-name fighter in Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.

“This is a fight that I’ve been craving, I’ve been waiting for. Obviously it’s a fight with a lot of responsibility and I’m up for it. Like I do for all my fights, I train very hard and prepare myself,” Canelo said in an interview with John Dennen of boxingnewsonline.net. “These are the type of fights that I’ve always wanted, the big fights.”

The 25-year-old Alvarez, who is one of the rising stars in the sport, will be facing the veteran pugilist in the 34-year-old cotto Cotto on Nov. 21, 2015 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States.

The Canelo-Cotto match-up has been discussed since 2012 but negotiations fell through, as both sides could not agree to the financial terms of the fight. Three years later, the storied rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico will once again be revisited on top of the squared ring.

Alvarez has actually been through one big fight in his career—a 2013 bout against Floyd Mayweather Jr., who beat the Mexican via a 12-round majority decision.

Meanwhile, Cotto has already faced the biggest names in boxing; Mayweather Jr. in 2012 when he lost via a 12-round unanimous decision; and Manny Pacquiao in 2009 when he lost via a 12th round technical knockout.

Alvarez, who will enter the bout as the favourite in most sports betting lines, added in the interview that he respects Cotto and his fight style and assured boxing fans that Canelo-Cotto will be an exciting fight.

“The styles will mix in well. We are going to clash well and it’s going to be added to the record books. It’s going to make history. We are going to put on a great fight,” Alvarez said. “I’m looking forward to it because I know it can go down in history as one of the great fights between Mexico and Puerto Rico and that’s what I’m looking forward to. My career is still far from over. I have many more fights to come but this is the one that I’ve been craving and wanting so bad.”

Cotto (40-4-0, 33 knockouts) is on the comeback trail with three wins—two via knockouts—in his last three fights and after losing two bouts in 2012. Like Cotto, Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 knockouts) has also won three straight with two bouts not going the distance in his last three bouts.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.

RELATED STORIES