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Saul Alvarez, left, of Mexico, lands a left on the face of Matthew Hatton, of England, during the first round of their WBC super welterweight title boxing match in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, March 5, 2011. Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Daniel Ponce De Leon, foreground, of Mexico, takes a punch from Adrien Broner during the eighth round of their junior lightweight boxing match in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, March 5, 2011. Broner won by unanimous decision. Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
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Adrien Broner from Cincinnati, Ohio lands a punch to Daniel Ponce De Leon, of Mexico, during the second round of their junior lightweight boxing match in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday March 5,2011. Richard Vogel, Associated Press
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Saul Alvarez, left, of Mexico, and Matthew Hatton, of England, trade punches during the sixth round of their WBC super welterweight title boxing match in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, March 5, 2011. Jae C. Hong, Associated Press
By Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Saul Alvarez dominated nearly every minute and unanimously outpointed Matthew Hatton on Saturday night to win the vacant WBC 154-pound belt, picking up the first world title of the 20-year-old's skyrocketing career.

The redheaded, freckle-faced Mexican phenomenon known as Canelo — the Spanish word for cinnamon — became the youngest man to win the super welterweight belt with a dominant performance against Hatton, the younger brother of former world champion Ricky Hatton.

Alvarez picked apart Hatton from the opening bell, peppering the smaller Englishman with head shots and using his brute power.

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The overwhelmingly pro-Mexican crowd at Anaheim's Honda Center roared for the fighter who's already among the most famous athletes in Mexico.

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