Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, James Kirkland agree to fight in May

Promoter Oscar De La Hoya said Friday he has signed agreements from former light-middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and heavy-punching James Kirkland to fight each other in May on HBO.

De La Hoya told the Times in a telephone interview from Alvarez’s home in San Diego that the date and site -- either San Antonio’s Alamodome or a venue in Las Vegas -- will be finalized soon.

Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 knockouts) had a deadline of last weekend that middleweight world champion Miguel Cotto let pass without agreeing to a deal. Cotto is believed to be waiting in case Floyd Mayweather Jr. opts not to fight Manny Pacquiao on May 2.

De La Hoya has said he’ll move the Alvarez-Kirkland bout from May 2 if Mayweather fights Pacquiao in a long-awaited fight that is being negotiated, but he will keep the fight on May 2 on HBO (not a pay-per-view) if Mayweather fights Cotto on that date.

An Austin, Texas, product, Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs) last fought in December 2013, scoring an impressive technical knockout of Glen Tapia in the sixth round.

He’s battled with his promoter and manager during the last year, but De La Hoya says Kirkland will be paired with trainer Ann Wolfe -- who can be a stabilizing force for the fighter -- in preparing for this bout.

Alvarez “said this fight is going to be like two Mack trucks colliding,” De La Hoya said. “I can’t wait for this fight.”