Floyd Mayweather announcement coming first week of January: Canelo or Guerrero for May 4?

Floyd Mayweather is returning to the squared circle on May 4, 2013, which we already know. In the first week of January, Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions hopes to announce the fighter who will oppose Mayweather in Las Vegas.

Mayweather (43-0, 26 KO) hasn't fought since May 5 of this year, when he outpointed Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand. The fight did big business at the gate and on pay-per-view, and preceded a short jail stint for Mayweather, who turns 36 in February.

Both Canelo Alvarez (41-0-1, 30 KO) and Robert Guerrero (31-1-1, 18 KO) are angling for the fight. Canelo recently said he thinks the fight is going to happen, while Guerrero's side has been quiet, but Schaefer has said several times he was negotiating for Guerrero to land the bout.

Alvarez went 2-0 in 2012, easily beating an old Shane Mosley and an undersized Josesito Lopez. The 22-year-old Mexican superstar would be the bigger fight in terms of money and attention, and there's a great story about the veteran pound-for-pound ruler putting his unbeaten mark on the line against a fresh, youthful star looking to lead the next generation. It would also serve as a 154-pound unification bout, as Mayweather holds the WBA title, with Canelo carrying the WBC strap.

Guerrero, 30 in March, also had an excellent year, coming back from injury to jump two weight classes and beat rugged Selcuk Aydin in his welterweight debut, followed by a highly impressive dismantling of Andre Berto in November. Guerrero campaigned for the fight that Cotto got early in 2012, and was mostly shrugged or laughed off. Nobody is shrugging or laughing now, though, as he's earned his way into consideration.