The boxing world has been waiting years for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to face someone perceived to pose some kind of threat. That time, many believe, is at hand.

Mayweather, the undisputed pound-for-pound king, fights big, strong and young Canelo Alvarez on Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in what is expected to be the most watched fight (at least in the U.S.) since Mayweather fought Oscar De La Hoya in 2007.

With that in mind, THE RING staff and contributors put together a comprehensive 50-page preview package on the Mayweather-Alvarez card for the October 2013 issue, including a beautiful fold-out poster of well-known artist Richard T. Slone’s painting of the fighters.

Also in our Mayweather-Alvarez coverage:

• In The Mayweather Touch, contributor Ron Borges writes that Mayweather knows what to say and when to say it in an effort to sell his fights to the public.
• Contributor Norm Frauenheim explores in Big Bucks the staggering amount of money Mayweather-Alvarez figures to generate.
• In ‘O’ No, columnist David Greisman writes about the impact a loss would have on Mayweather’s legacy.
• Contributor Tim Smith writes in Closing the Gap that Showtime, whose pay-per-view arm will televise Mayweather-Alvarez, seems to be closing in on HBO in terms of boxing viewership.
• Mauro Ranallo, Showtime’s new blow-by-blow broadcaster, sat down with contributor Joseph Santoliquito for a very personal Q&A.
• Smith also wrote Lightning in a Bottle, a look back at the record-setting Mayweather-De La Hoya fight.
• In O’Alvarez? U.K. correspondent suggests that Alvarez’s red hair can be traced back to Ireland.
• Michael Rosenthal, Editor of THE RING Magazine, provides 5 Reasons Mayweather is King.
• Rosenthal also wrote Show Stealer?, a look at the compelling Lucas Matthysse-Danny Garcia fight on the Mayweather-Alvarez card.
• Contributor Bernard Fernandez asked De La Hoya, How Can Canelo Win?
• RingTV.com Editor Doug Fischer, an expert at breaking down fights, provides his head-to-head analysis of the Mayweather-Alvarez fight. He grades the fighters in 20 key categories and predicts a winner.
• And, finally, THE RING asked 30 boxing experts to predict a winner in the main event. Who did they select? We’re not telling here.

Elsewhere in the issue:

In Best I’ve Faced, Hall of Famer Pipino Cuevas reveals his top opponents in 10 key categories. ÔǪ

Ricky Hatton gives his take on the Mayweather-Alvarez fight in U.K. correspondent Gareth A Davies’ column, Letters from Europe. ÔǪ

In Ready to Grumble, columnist David Greisman writes that the hype surrounding Adrien Broner doesn’t match his accomplishments. ÔǪ

Junior featherweight prospect Genesis Servania is the subject of New Faces. 

In Sweet Science, which focuses on the scientific side of the sport, columnist Scott LaFee writes that big muscles doesn’t necessarily result in big success. ÔǪ

Columnist Thomas Gerbasi writes in Women’s Boxing that Layla McCarter became an adopted daughter in the home country of the woman she defeated. ÔǪ

THE RING caught up with former heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney in the occasional feature What Ever Happened To ? 

And, in Coming Up, a new feature, THE RING breaks down the biggest fights on the schedule.