Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez Confirmed for November

The hotly rumored, much-anticipated fight between Miguel Cotto and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has finally been made official, HBO revealed on Thursday.

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"I will give the fans the fight they want to see," said Cotto, per Fight Hype. "As I have always said, during my whole career, I am here to fight the best names and the best fighters. This will be another chapter in my career and I will be ready for him. Fans will enjoy a real fight, another classic battle in the Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry."

"This is the 'Fight of the Year' that true boxing fans have been waiting for between two of the biggest stars in the sport today, Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez," said Golden Boy Promotions Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. "Cotto vs. Canelo will be an epic showdown, full of non-stop action from the moment the first bell rings. This fight is an example of exactly what Golden Boy Promotions does: puts on the best fights between top fighters in the primes of their careers."

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On Aug. 4, Oscar De La Hoya commented on fight negotiations, via Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times: 

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"Golden Boy is all for it, Roc Nation is all for it, Mandalay Bay is all for it, Las Vegas … everybody’s in – Cotto, ‘Canelo,’ ” De La Hoya told The Times Tuesday in a telephone conversation.

"We’re waiting for one person: Gaby Penagaricano."

De La Hoya described the rematch clause split as “one last point we have to discuss."

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Alvarez (45-1-1) has bounced back nicely with three consecutive wins since suffering his first career loss against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September 2013, while Cotto (40-4) has won each of his last three bouts via stoppage. 

Boxing has already had a notable 2015 with Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao shattering buyrate records. Another high-profile showdown featuring Alvarez and Cotto at the end of this year would make for an excellent bookend, as long as the two sides can work out a deal.