Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will likely face Joshua Clottey in December before his highly anticipated showdown against reigning World Boxing Council middleweight champion Miguel Cotto next year.

Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya said in an interview with BoxingScene that they are strongly considering Clottey after the former champion impressed in his recent fight.

Clottey, who was once considered as one of the best boxers in the world, is coming off a unanimous decision win against Anthony Mundine in Australia where he scored five knock downs in front of his opponent's hometown fans.

Clottey's win against Mundine was his third straight victory since losing to Manny Pacquiao via unanimous decision in their World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight in March 2010.

"Clottey is an option," De La Hoya when asked about Canelo's next opponent. "He's coming off a big win over Anthony Mundine, where he knocked him down five or six times. It was a great victory. He looked good, strong. He went the distance with Pacquiao, Margarito, and had a close fight with Cotto. Clottey is strong and he'll be right in front of you."

Clottey's name has floated over the past several weeks, but most analysts are saying that the 36-year-old doesn't deserve a fight against Alvarez, but the Ghanaian said that he is ready to prove his doubters wrong.

Clottey said that he was surprised at all the negative things that analysts are saying about him, pointing out that his big wins are being overlooked because of his loss to Pacquiao.

"I don't know why people condemn me with one fight but they've forget the best performances I made with the late (Diego) Corrales, Zab (Judah), (Miguel) Cotto and just recently Mundine in Australia," Clottey said. "Well no problems, let see what happens in this fight because I am ready for it like I was ready for the Australia fight."

Alvarez, the former world light middleweight champion, is coming off a win against Erislandy Lara and Alfredo Angulo after absorbing a majority decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September last year.

If Alvarez wins in his next fight, the 24-year-old is expected to collide with Cotto, with De La Hoya saying that an Alvarez-Cotto fight is the second-biggest fight next to the super fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather.

"It is what the people and the world is waiting for. The biggest fight after Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather is Canelo and Cotto. Saul gave me orders to get it done for May and I'll look to do it," De La Hoya said via BoxingScene.

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