Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez is the new WBC middleweight champion after beating Miguel Cotto by unanimous points decision on Saturday.

In one of the most eagerly anticipated fights of the year - pitting a Mexican idol against a Puerto Rican legend in Las Vegas - the judges scored the fight in favour of Alvarez 117-111, 119-109, 118-110.

Alvarez and Cotto went toe-to-toe throughout the 12 rounds at Mandalay Bay, but the former pulled away during the closing stages to claim the bout.

The 25-year-old Alvarez, whose only professional defeat came at the hands of the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr last September, connected with some good left and right jabs in the final two rounds as he improved to 46-1-1, with 32 knockouts.

Cotto, who went into the fight knowing he would not be holding the belt at the end regardless of the result after the WBC stripped him of his title for not paying the $300,000 sanctioning fee, fell to a 40-5 record.