Freddie Roach is hoping that the proposed showdown between Miguel Cotto and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will be finalized soon. But despite the difficult negotiation between both camps, the Hall of Fame trainer believes that the fight will happen in May next year.

Roach is also looking forward to the rumored bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather on May 2 next year, but the veteran trainer admitted that the Cotto-Canelo fight is more likely to happen on the weekend of Cinco de Mayo.

Cotto will make his first World Boxing Council middleweight title defense next year, and Roach wants it to be against Alvarez before thinking about other possible opponents like Gennady Golovkin, the reigning World Boxing Association and International Boxing Organization middleweight champion.

"I think Canelo-Cotto is more likely – it's a big fight out there for both guys," Roach told BoxingScene. "The Puerto Rican-Mexican rivalry in the sport is a great one and I love that fight for Miguel. I really hope that fight comes about. It's definitely the fight I want for him first and then we'll worry about guys like 'Triple G' after that."

Alvarez, who is coming off victories against Alfredo Angulo and Erislandy Lara earlier this year, recently said that negotiations for the Cotto bout are ongoing. The 24-year-old Mexican said that Cotto is not his lone option for his May bout, but Canelo reiterated that he wants to give the boxing fans the fight that they are asking for.

"I'm ready to test myself against Cotto, but he's not the only option," Alvarez said, according to Boxing Scene. "I do not want to send any message to Cotto. I usually do not send message. A negotiation is not done through print. It will be a very important fight and that is what people want to see."

Cotto, who won the WBC middleweight title in June against Sergio Martinez, said in a recent interview that his title defense against Alvarez is not yet set in stone. He reiterated, though, that they have already laid out their proposed fight terms and it is up to Canelo's camp to sign the deal.

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