By Edward Chaykovsky

British boxer Ryan Rhodes (45-4, 31KOs) is ready to upset the odds by claiming the WBC's junior middleweight title. A few days ago, the WBC appointed Rhodes as the mandatory challenger to the title owned by Mexico's Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (36-0, 26KOs). Alvarez won the vacant title earlier this month with a twelve round unanimous decision over a close friend of Rhodes, Matthew Hatton.

Rhodes watched the fight between Alvarez and Hatton. He witnessed Hatton's ability to easily expose Alvarez's flaws. Rhodes gives himself an edge in size and power. The fight is tentative for June 18 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Hatton didn't have the power to hurt Alvarez. The Mexican star walked right through most of his punches. Rhodes doesn't expect that to happen in June. He is very confident of having the power to hurt Hatton.

"We've received an email from the WBC, confirming that I'm mandatory challenger. The fight is looking like it's going to take place maybe in Mexico on the 18th of June. I'm very confident. Matthew did very well. He jumped up from welterweight to fight a strong junior middleweight. But I'm very confident. Matthew showed me that [Alvarez] has plenty of flaws. Reminds me of myself when I was 20. He makes a lot of mistakes but he's very confident, very erratic. I'm very confident that I can come through and win this fight," Rhodes said.

"I'm a big light middleweight. I campaigned for a few years at middleweight and jumped down to light middleweight. He had no respect for Matthew's punches and walked right through them. I've never lost at light middleweight. When I hit him and he's going to feel it, he won't be walking through my shots."