Miguel Cotto is to defend his WBC middleweight title against Saul Alvarez at the Mandalay Bay hotel, Las Vegas, on November 21.
The highly-anticipated fight, between two of boxing's most high-profile figures, has been successfully finalised at the second attempt and represents a continuation of the popular Cotto's rivalry with Mexican opposition.
In one of the fights of 2008 the Puerto Rican lost to Alvarez's compatriot Antonio Margarito before avenging his defeat, and ending Margarito's career, in a grudge match in 2011.
"Fans will enjoy a real fight, another classic battle in the Puerto Rico vs Mexico rivalry," said Cotto.
Alvarez, who stopped James Kirkland in three rounds with his most clinical performance to date in his last fight in May, said: "The fans have spoken out, longing for this fight and it is my pleasure to say that it is finally happening."
Confirmation of the fight also raises the prospect of the winner challenging the victor of Gennady Golovkin against David Lemieux, another of the world's most exciting match-ups, scheduled for October 17.
Both fights, within the boxing fraternity, are likely to generate significantly more interest than Floyd Mayweather's against Andre Berto on September 12.
The Puerto Rico-Mexico boxing rivalry, incidentally, goes beyond the career of Cotto. Mexican idol Julio Cesar Chavez memorably fought Hector Camacho in 1992 and earned one of the finest victories of his career.
Source: PA
