Canelo Alvarez Calls Out Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto Following Win

Following his destructive win over Josesito Lopez last night on Showtime, 22-year-old Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez said he's ready for the big fights, and called out two of boxing's biggest names.

"I'm not always looking for the knockout, but this was perfect tonight," Canelo said after his dominant win over the overmatched and undersized Lopez.

"I had a big responsibility fighting for my fans around the world this weekend and I think I made them happy. I want the big fights now -- Cotto and Mayweather."

[ Canelo vs Lopez - Photo Gallery ]

It was well-known before the fight that Miguel Cotto would be in attendance, and has already considered fighting Canelo next year, on May 4, which will of course by boxing's annually huge Cinco De Mayo weekend. You don't even need a Mexican fighter for that to be a big fight weekend -- in recent years, Pacquiao vs Hatton, Mayweather vs Mosley, and Pacquiao vs Mosley have all done well with the date -- but there's no denying it adds something with a viable Mexican star.

And when you consider that that viable Mexican star would be facing the reigning king of Puerto Rican fighters, you've got a potentially huge hit on your hands.

Cotto (37-3, 30 KO) has to get by Austin Trout first, and those two will meet on December 1 on Showtime from Madison Square Garden. Be 0% surprised when it's announced on fight week that Canelo will be attending. Canelo vs Cotto next May is a huge fight if they stay winning until then.

As for Mayweather (43-0, 26 KO), I do think that's also a distinct possibility. Look, if Floyd wants that May 4 date -- and chances are solid he will -- then Golden Boy will gladly pass over Canelo vs Cotto to make Mayweather vs Canelo, if they're ready to roll the dice on that.

Like fallen Mexican counterpart Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who lost his "0" to Sergio Martinez across town last night, I don't think losing to top fighters is going to hurt Canelo if it happens. Chavez Jr probably didn't stop being a cash cow last night -- I'd be shocked if that were the case. Canelo losing to Mayweather, if he were to lose to Mayweather, wouldn't stop him from being hugely popular, either.

There are some guys you can risk. Naturally popular fighters like Canelo and Chavez Jr are of that ilk, I believe. They'll always have what made them phenomenons -- Chavez Jr has his name (and he's a fighter), and Canelo will have his red hair (oh, and talent).

It's all a ways off. Canelo wants to fight in December, too, even though that schedule seems filled at the moment. Canelo could fight on December 15 (Richard Schaefer says he won't run against Pacquiao), when HBO plans to run Timothy Bradley, which would match him up well with Cotto's time frame.

We'll see where it goes. The kid's not lacking for confidence in his challenges, that's for sure.