LAS VEGAS – Mike Alvarado went searching for redemption and revenge against Brandon Rios, and he was forced to walk the long and grueling distance to get it.
Alvarado, who lost to Rios in October, pulled off the upset, defeating Rios by unanimous decision Saturday night at Mandalay Bay to win the interim WBO junior-welterweight title in front of a spirited crowd of 5,418.
Juan Manuel Marquez holds the WBO title, but he hasn't competed at 140 pounds in some time. Marquez will likely vacate the belt, his future appearing to head toward another fight at welterweight against Manny Pacquiao.
Judge Bill Lerch and Dave Moretti scored the fight, 115-113. Duane Ford had it, 114-113. Ford scored the second round, 10-8, for Rios. There were no knockdowns.
"The difference this time was that Mike had better legs," manager Henry Delgado said. "He worked on high-elevation training and ran up and down mountains."
Rios (31-1-1) defeated Alvarado (34-1) by seventh-round TKO in October at The Home Depot Center.
As if their instant classic last year needed any company, Saturday's clash provided it.
The fight turned into a continuation of the first meeting from the outset as the fighters took turns trading big and vicious shots.
In the second, Rios staggered Alvarado with a jab and was able to survive Rios' pressure by holding. Alvarado hurt Rios in the third round. The inside fighting continued for the remainder of the fight.
Top Rank's Bob Arum called the second round "a classic."
The second half of the fight was the key for Alvarado as he won the last half on all three scorecards. Lerch and Ford gave Alvarado four of the final six rounds, and Moretti scored five of the last six for Alvarado.
Alvarado said in the days leading up to the fight he needed to box better than he did the last time, but no one in boxing circles believed him.
The punchstats, provided by CompuBox indicated just how close the fight was. Alvarado threw 860 total punches, compared to 823 for Rios. Alvarado landed 30 percent of his punches. Rios landed 29.
Both fighters landed 21 percent of their jabs. Alvarado connected on 38 percent of his power punches, compared to 34 percent for Rios.
At the end of the night, the biggest question wasn't will there be a third, but when will it be.
"Certainly a rematch will be bigger," Arum said. "But it doesn't have to be next. I don't like to do immediate rematches. I did it here because these guys are crazy and HBO pressed me to do the fight.
"I want to see these guys against other people and then do a third fight. Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez never did immediate rematches."
Both fighters were sent to UMC Trauma Center for CT scans and precautionary measures.
"It surpassed my expectations," Arum said. "Alvarado fought intelligently, he had a game plan and he executed it."
Rios earned $1.25 million for the fight, his largest purse of his career. Alvarado was paid $625,000.
Source: By DAMIAN CALHOUN / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Alvarado gets revenge against Rios
LAS VEGAS – Mike Alvarado went searching for redemption and revenge against Brandon Rios, and he was forced to walk the long and grueling distance to get it.
Alvarado, who lost to Rios in October, pulled off the upset, defeating Rios by unanimous decision Saturday night at Mandalay Bay to win the interim WBO junior-welterweight title in front of a spirited crowd of 5,418.
Juan Manuel Marquez holds the WBO title, but he hasn't competed at 140 pounds in some time. Marquez will likely vacate the belt, his future appearing to head toward another fight at welterweight against Manny Pacquiao.
Judge Bill Lerch and Dave Moretti scored the fight, 115-113. Duane Ford had it, 114-113. Ford scored the second round, 10-8, for Rios. There were no knockdowns.
"The difference this time was that Mike had better legs," manager Henry Delgado said. "He worked on high-elevation training and ran up and down mountains."
Rios (31-1-1) defeated Alvarado (34-1) by seventh-round TKO in October at The Home Depot Center.
As if their instant classic last year needed any company, Saturday's clash provided it.
The fight turned into a continuation of the first meeting from the outset as the fighters took turns trading big and vicious shots.
In the second, Rios staggered Alvarado with a jab and was able to survive Rios' pressure by holding. Alvarado hurt Rios in the third round. The inside fighting continued for the remainder of the fight.
Top Rank's Bob Arum called the second round "a classic."
The second half of the fight was the key for Alvarado as he won the last half on all three scorecards. Lerch and Ford gave Alvarado four of the final six rounds, and Moretti scored five of the last six for Alvarado.
Alvarado said in the days leading up to the fight he needed to box better than he did the last time, but no one in boxing circles believed him.
The punchstats, provided by CompuBox indicated just how close the fight was. Alvarado threw 860 total punches, compared to 823 for Rios. Alvarado landed 30 percent of his punches. Rios landed 29.
Both fighters landed 21 percent of their jabs. Alvarado connected on 38 percent of his power punches, compared to 34 percent for Rios.
At the end of the night, the biggest question wasn't will there be a third, but when will it be.
"Certainly a rematch will be bigger," Arum said. "But it doesn't have to be next. I don't like to do immediate rematches. I did it here because these guys are crazy and HBO pressed me to do the fight.
"I want to see these guys against other people and then do a third fight. Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez never did immediate rematches."
Both fighters were sent to UMC Trauma Center for CT scans and precautionary measures.
"It surpassed my expectations," Arum said. "Alvarado fought intelligently, he had a game plan and he executed it."
Rios earned $1.25 million for the fight, his largest purse of his career. Alvarado was paid $625,000.
Source: By DAMIAN CALHOUN / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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