Alvarez takes on Hatton's brother

Saul Alvarez's career has been on a skyward trajectory since his early teens, and the hard-hitting 20-year-old can make boxing championship history even more quickly than he imagined tonight.

The red-headed, freckle-faced slugger, ubiquitously known as "Canelo" - the Spanish word for cinnamon - will fight for the vacant WBC super welterweight belt against Matthew Hatton, the less heralded brother of former 140lb champion Ricky Hatton, at Anaheim's Honda Centre tonight.

"I didn't expect it to happen this quickly, but I've been preparing for this for a long time," said Alvarez, who turned pro at 15.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity, but I still have to earn it."

If Alvarez wins the fight, he would become the youngest boxer to win the 154lb title.