Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will return to the ring in December with reports indicating that the former world champion will likely go up against Joshua Clottey in his next fight.

Alvarez, who is coming off a split decision win against Erislandy Lara in July, is eyeing a showdown with World Boxing Council middleweight champion Miguel Cotto next year, and a win against Clottey will likely lead to the much-awaited showdown.

Freddie Roach, Cotto's trainer, said in a recent interview with BoxingScene, that a showdown with Clottey is good for Alvarez as he prepares for a mega fight with the Puerto Rican champion.

"It's a good fight. I think Canelo should win that fight. It's [a] competitive [fight]. The thing is, they both wanted to take tuneup fights first [before facing each other]. But Miguel didn't want to take a tuneup fight if I wasn't going to be there. I'm pleased that he chose that, but I feel that bad that I'm not going to be there," Roach said.

Edison Reynoso, Canelo's manager, recently confirmed in an interview that Clottey, who won in his most recent fight against Anthony Mundine on April 9 in New South Wales, Australia.

"There have been some things going forward. The most viable thing right now is Clottey for December 6th at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas," Reynoso said. "But it seems the venue might be occupied [on that date] we're going to see if the fight is going to another location in Texas or the date will change to the end of November."

As for Cotto, who won the WBC middleweight title via an impressive win against Sergio Martinez, Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum said that the four-division champion will also have tune-up bout before the proposed showdown against Canelo.

According to Arum, they are considering the possibility of pitting Cotto against Andy Lee, who holds a 33-2 record with 23 knockouts in early 2015.