"Mile High" Mike Alvarado (former WBO Light Welterweight Champion) 34-3-0 23 ko's vs Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios (former WBA Lightweight Champion) - 32-2-1 23 ko's
Mexicans are some of the most passionate fans that you'll ever see in the sport of boxing. Their boxers are some of the passionate fighters that you will ever see in the ring. When a Mexican fighter is on a card there are certain generalizations that most of the public expects from them: face first action and non flashy brawling with little regard for defense and overall health. It's an unfair generalization as most Mexican fighters are solid and sound technically, they just have a higher emphasis on dishing out quality offensive work.
Although mostly known for their epic rivalries with Puerto Rican fighters, there have also been epic rivalries within their own country. In more recent times it has been Erik Morales-Marco Antonio Barrera and Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez. Both of those rivalries that are among some the grittiest, violent, and most memorable encounters that you will have the pleasure of watching. Now in the 2010s another pair of Mexican fighters will engage in a rubber match after a classic pair of fights that is expected to be nothing less than classic: Mike Alvarado and Brandon Rios.
Backstory
The first encounter took place in October 2012 when both fighters were undefeated prospects at 140. As the opener for Donaire-Nishioka those 2 engaged a brutal slugfest for 7 rounds that had the crowd on its feet. The fight came to an end when a Rios right hand hurt Alvarado and had him on the ropes when referee Pat Russell interjected and stopped the fight. The opinion was although Alvarado was hung up on the ropes, the ref stopped the fight prematurely and robbed us of seeing a more definitive stoppage. Nevertheless it was still seen as a surefire fight of the year candidate.
A rematch was signed for March, 2013. This time a vacant belt would be on the line: the interim WBO Light Welterweight Championship. There was a lot of anticipation and Fight of the Year candidate talks in the pre fight build up and they did not disappoint. for 9-10 rounds they picked up where they left off from the first fight. IMO the level of brutality was upped even more and at times it was even uncomfortable to watch both fighters to take clean shot after clean shot. In the last couple rounds Alvarado who was starting to get busted up, decided to switch gears and use his head for something other than target practice. He boxed and moved against Rios who did not adjust and wanted to brawl some more. This would pay with a close unanimous decision and an interim belt.
Aftermath
After those 2 fights both fighters would veer off in different career trajectories. Brandon Rios would go 1-2. The first loss would be with his weight. Never the most disciplined of fighters with a history of draining himself before the weigh in. Rios was popped for using a banned substance in order to cut weight prior to his encounter with Manny Pacquiao. The second would be too Manny himself who gave him a very brutal one sided boxing lesson. After serving his suspension he returned to the ring against Diego Chaves. Rios looked absolutely terrible in this fight and was saved by Chaves fouls that eventually would cause a DQ and put a W on his record. Mike Alvarado would go winless in his next 2 fights after triumphing in the rematch. Prior to his fight with Ruslan Provodnikov, he would eventually be upgraded to full status as WBO Light Welterweight Champion of the world. It would be a title reign that would be short lived as he was bludgeoned in front of his hometown fans inside of 10 rounds by Ruslan. Then he seemed uncharacteristically gunshy and reserved in his fight with JMM even though both would trade KDs in that fight
Now almost 2 years have passed since their last encounter and the question most people have is what do these fighters have left in the tank? Years of draining and brawling have seemed to have already started taking its toll on Rios as on many occasions he has talked a slur in his speech. add on to rumors of a bad arm injury that he has not fully healed from. For Alvarado after the back to back Rios fights his punch resistance seems to have been compromised. A typical trait from somebody who's pretty much has been in one ridiculous brawl after another since 2011 with the win over Gabriel Martinez. The winner will most likely be rewarded with a big fight, remain a viable contender and a chance to make some more money. The loser, depending on the level of injuries, would probably have to consider retirement. We will see come the 24th.
Undercard
Gilberto Sanchez 30-0-0 24 ko's vs Maxim Vlasov 30-1-0 15 ko's
In the televised opener 2 prospects will engage in 10 round light heavyweight bout. Sanchez although on paper has an impressive record it is largely filled with poor competition and once contenders. The same could also be said with Vlasov. The notable fight on his record would be against Isaac Chilemba in which he would drop a narrow decision for his lone professional defeat. This fight will be a good test for both fighters on where they stand at light heavyweight and in boxing in general.
Gilberto Sanchez 30-0-0 24 ko's vs Maxim Vlasov 30-1-0 15 ko's
In the televised opener 2 prospects will engage in 10 round light heavyweight bout. Sanchez although on paper has an impressive record it is largely filled with poor competition and once contenders. The same could also be said with Vlasov. The notable fight on his record would be against Isaac Chilemba in which he would drop a narrow decision for his lone professional defeat. This fight will be a good test for both fighters on where they stand at light heavyweight and in boxing in general.
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