Brandon Rios beats Mike Alvarado to set up potential clash with Manny Pacquiao

Brandon Rios beat Mike Alvarado with a seventh-round stoppage in an entertaining fight in California on Saturday night.

The two fighters traded blow-for-blow in every round, but after stunning his opponent, Rios unloaded with a barrage of punches, forcing the referee to jump in.

The win has reportedly taken 26-year-old Rios to the top of the queue to fight Manny Pacquiao.

The Filipino has a December 8 showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez to negotiate first, but his promoter Bob Arum has already been talking about a 2013 fight against Rios.

"You see what happened to Mike Alvarado, I could do that to [Pacquiao]," Rios said after the fight.

"I think Alvarado hits harder than him, Pacquiao is a more in-and-out guy.

"You know what? Like always I will listen to Julio Chaves Sr - break the body and the head will fall."

Rios has improved his record to 31-0, with one draw.