By Jose Luis Camarillo

WBA President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza has seen a lot of improvements in WBC middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' (46-1-1, 32KOs) since the 2013 defeat at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr.

He felt Canelo looked much better when he was match against Puerto Rican veteran Miguel Cotto last November at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Canelo won a twelve round unanimous decision.

Canelo previously held the WBA "regular" title at 154-pounds after beating Austin Trout at the start of 2013. He lost the belt when he faced Mayweather, who at the time held the WBA's 'super' title at junior middleweight.

"He was our champion [at junior middleweight]. I think it has improved a lot. In his last fight with Miguel Cotto, I really liked how he looked. Physically he's showing a better form and he's more patient. He is a good fighter. I think in the fight against Floyd Mayweather, he was lacking a little....he needed two or three more fights. But I think at his present stage, [now that he's had] two or three more fights, he can compete with any opponent," Mendoza said.

Canelo will return on May 7th as part of Cinco De Mayo weekend. If he comes through in his first defense of the WBC belt, he will then have to face mandatory challenger Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin in September. Golovkin holds the WBA/IBO/IBF world titles at middleweight.

"Golovkin is a serious opponent. He doesn't reach the levels of popularity like other fighters, but he is a great fighter...he can box, move, punch, applies pressure in the ring and he can intimidate anyone," Mendoza said.

"[If Canelo beats him], it would erase the doubts about him after what happened with Mayweather."