Everyone is anticipating violence in the junior welterweight clash between Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado. As far as who wins, RingTV.com sought the opinions of several boxing insiders.
Bob Arum said Julio Cesar Chavez could fight Brian Vera next, and eventually, Andre Ward.
Who wins the Rios-Alvarado blood brawl?
|
Both former lightweight titleholder Brandon Rios and junior welterweight contender Mike Alvarado have promised victory in Saturday night's HBO-televised clash of unbeatens at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. One thing that appears certain is that the winner will have to bleed to succeed. "Cuts will be a major hindrance in a toe-to-toe slug-fest, and Alvarado's scar tissue will surely break open if a war breaks out," said Lee Groves of RingTV.com "It takes time for them to accumulate the punishment needed to cut short fights, so we will likely be treated to a battle that will go rounds." Rios (30-0-1, 22 knockouts) has promised that his bout with Alvarado (33-0, 23 KOs) will be "a very violent, very bloody fight," one he believes will invoke memories of the Arturo "Thunder" Gatti-"Irish" Micky Ward trilogy as well as the Diego Corrales-Jose Luis Castillo 2005 Fight of The Year. Of the three Gatti-Ward bouts, the first and third earned RING Magazine's "Fight Of The Year" honors. Meanwhile, Alvarado has vowed to become the first man to score a knockout against Rios, whom he meets on the undercard of a main event matching Nonito Donaire (29-1, 18 KOs) against Japan's Toshiaki Nishioka (39-4-3, 24 KOs), THE RING's No. 3 and No. 1 junior featherweights, respectively, in what will be a battle for the magazine's vacant 122-pound championship as well as Donaire's IBF and WBO belts. "It has all of the makings to be a great fight. The way that they fight, they're both disciplined guys," said Ward (38-13-1, 27 KOs), who defeated Gatti and then twice lost to before retiring. "They fight hard. They don't take backward steps. So it has the makings of being a fight like the ones between me and Arturo Gatti. But, you know, who knows? But like I said, it certainly has the makings." Alvarado and Rios are known for their fierce, blood-and-guts approach to boxing, with Rios having won his past two bouts by 11th-round knockout of British contender Johnny Murray in December and controversial split-decision over Richard Abril in April. On the Rios-Abril undercard, Alvarado overcame rugged Mauricio Herrera for a 10-round unanimous decision after having survived for a come-from-behind, 10th-round stoppage of Breidis Prescott on the November undercard the third fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.
"Rios is a tough guy, and Alvarado, he's tough too. You know, I might give Alvarado a little bit of an edge, but I don't know," said Ward. "It's safe to say that it's going to be a great fight and that I'll be watching. People should tune in to watch it, because it's going to be a classic." As RingTV.com's panel of experts takes a stab at picking Saturday night's winner, if there is one thing that seems guaranteed, it's the notion that there will be blood.
Mike Coppinger, RingTV.com/USA Today Mike Alvarado late-round KO Brandon Rios: Brandon Rios will be climbing in weight and won't enjoy the same size advantages he's accustomed to. Mike Alvarado loves to brawl and won't be discouraged by Rios' constant pressure. I expect Alvarado to outlast Rios in a battle of wills in an epic. Record: 9-6
Doug Fischer, Editor of RingTV.com Mike Alvarado W 10 Brandon Rios: If this fight were scheduled for 12 rounds, I'd go with one of these punishers by final-rounds KO or TKO. But I think both are tough and experienced enough to survive 10 rounds. This is just a hunch, but I think Alvarado's maturity and willingness to box in spots during what will no doubt be a hardcore slugfest for most of the fight will enable the 32-year-old contender to earn a very close -- and very bloody -- decision. I can see it being a split or majority nod to the Colorado native. Record: 10-3
Norm Frauenheim, www.15rounds.com
Brandon Rios UD 10 Mike Alvarado: Energy is an edge that Rios may have sacrificed in the futile battle to make 135 pounds. At 140, Rios might have restored a depleted resource critical in his ability to sustain an attack so overwhelming a couple of years ago. Record: 14-6
Brandon Rios KO 10 Mike Alvarado: This will end on cuts. If Brandon Rios feels good, he'll fight good and his "good" is better than Mike Alvarado's "good."
Cuts will be a major hindrance in a toe-to-toe slug-fest, and Alvarado's scar tissue will surely break open if a war breaks out. It will be fun to watch for as long as it lasts but the feeling here is that the ringside physician will determine the final result. Record: 4-5
Robert Guerrero, five-belt, three-division titlewinner
Mike Alvarado KO Brandon Rios: Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado is a an even fight. Alvarado, in my opinion, is a slightly better boxer than Rios. Record: 11-5
Ryan Maquinana, CSNBAYAREA/BoxingScene.com Brandon Rios TKO 10 Mike Alvarado. Here's a true pick'em matchup between two warriors who make good fights.
I like Brandon Rios to shake off his last two lackluster performances now that he has a sturdy guy in Mike Alvarado, who can box if he wants to. Record: 14-5
Record: 7-2
Jack Obermayer, Fight Fax Inc. Brandon Rios TKO 10 Mike Alvarado: Tough one, but the feeling here is that Brandon Rios is up for this one, and if he feels comfortable at the weight, then I see him physically punishing Mike Alvarado and stopping him in late rounds. Rios by 10th-round technical knockout. Record: 7-3
Mike Alvarado TKO 10 Brandon Rios: Mike Alvarado wins by 10th-round TKO over Brandon Rios. On paper another cracker, fingers crossed that both men deliver as anticipated. Record: 5-1
Brandon Rios KO Mike Alvarado: I have to go with Brandon Rios. He's younger and a little quicker in this face first brawl with Mike Alvarado. Record: 13-7
Michael Rosenthal, Editor of THE RING Brandon Rios UD 10 Mike Alvarado: Brandon Rios-Mike Alvarado is a fan's dream -- two fearless sluggers who enter their showdown undefeated. Alvarado might be the better boxer of the two, but Rios is more experienced against top-tier opposition and is unusually strong and resilient. Rios typically outlasts his opponents to win the second half of the fight. That will happen again in this fight. Rios by unanimous decision. Record: 15-3
Joseph Santoliquito/Ring Magazine/RingTV.com/CBS Sports Brandon Rios KO 8 Mike Alvarado: This has Fight-of-The-Year potential, and is a great fan-friendly fight. Brandon Rios will get tested, but I believe he has the kind of armor to prevail against Mike Alvarado and turn some testy times into a stoppage. Record: 8-3
John Scully, trainer of RING and WBC lightheavyweight champion Chad Dawson Brandon Rios W 10 Mike Alvarado: I have Brandon Rios winning by a very hard fought 12-round decision over Mike Alvarado. Record: 4-2
Mike Alvarado KO 10 Brandon Rios: Mike Alvarado has been waiting a long time for this opportunity and I think he will cash in this shot. When two fighters fight this type of style, I always favor the harder worker. Record: 13-4
Brandon Rios KO 10 Mike Alvarado: I see Mike Alvarado boxing more than most people expect, and that might frustrate Brandon Rios, who wants to slug it out from the opening bell. Record: 8-3
Chris Robinson, The Examiner.com/BoxingScene.com
Going with my heart in this one, I feel that Rios will surprise people the way he did vs. Miguel Acosta and Anthony Peterson. Rios by Unanimous Decision in a bruising battle.
By the slim margin of 10-6, the experts have Brandon Rios rising in weight to defeat Mike Alvarado in a potential blood bath.
Read more: Can Nishioka conquer Donaire? Ask the experts Who wins Chavez-Martinez? Ask the experts Can Lopez topple Alvarez? The experts weigh in Who wins Ward-Dawson? Ask the experts Who wins Guerrero-Aydin? Ask the experts Who wins the Haye-Chisora brawl? The experts weigh in Will Khan 'job' Garcia? Ask the experts Is Donaire in tough against Mathebula? Ask the experts Can Bradley topple Pacquiao? The experts weigh in Who wins the Tarver-Kayode clash of ages? Bute or Froch? Can the experts pick a winner? Who wins Mayweather-Cotto? Ask the experts Alvarez or Mosley? The experts weigh in Who wins Hopkins-Dawson II? The Experts weigh in Can Malignaggi Senchenko in Ukraine? Ask the experts Who wins Mares-Morel? The experts weigh in Who wins Rios-Abril? Ask the experts Who wins Morales-Garcia? The experts decide Who wins Martinez-Macklin? The experts weigh-in Who wins Salido-Lopez II? We asked the experts
Photo by Chris Farina, Top Rank Photo by Naoki Fukuda Photo by Chris Farina, Top Rank Photo by Naoki Fukuda Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com |