Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado: One for the ages

09/14/201610/14/2012 ESB

Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado: One for the ages By Joseph Herron: Too often in boxing, heavily publicized events fail to live up to expectation and fall short of the preceding media hype. In this era of safety first fighters and early stoppages, it’s hard to guarantee a sure fire winner.

But when the match-up of Brandon Rios versus Mike Alvarado was initially announced by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum and company several months ago, most fight fans and media members knew that the pairing would surely strike gold at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on October 13th.

Both fighters were undefeated going into this bout, and the two warriors desperately wanted to put forth a star making performance on the biggest stage of boxing, HBO.

Rios’ KO of Alvarado – Awesome Display of Ferocity

09/14/201610/14/2012 ESB

By Paul Strauss: It’s almost unfair. Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios not only is heavy handed, he’s also iron jawed. Mike “Mile HIgh” Alvarado hit him bunches of times with shots that would have put lesser fighters in la la land. Yet each time Rios got nailed, he would hardly take a step back, and instead would jump right back in Mike’s face. Alvarado tried to mimic him, and to many, including unofficial score keeper Harold Lederman, Mile High was being successful at the Home Depot Center, Carson, CA.

As the battle unfolded, it looked to be shaded in favor of Alvarado. He boxed well, making good use of his size advantage, his good mobility and his jab. He changed angles of his punches, managing to get around Rios’ tight guard, or split it up the middle. But, Mike’s swollen face told a different story. It revealed the power of Bam Bam’s short shots, which were not showy but devastating. Often times Rios’ unique style causes one to believe he’s back on his heels. His posture just doesn’t seem to be quite right, but the truth is he gets all of his body behind his pulverizing inside work, and he loves it. After a particularly brutal early round, he trekked back to his corner with a big smile on his face, telling trainer Robert Garcia, “I love this @#!%!”

It’s impossible to give a blow by blow description of the fight. It was more like a gang attack. On the one hand it was bam bam by Rios, and on the other it was rat ta tat tat by Alvarado. Both men had automatic weapons. There was no single shot firing by these two combat veterans. These guys were equipped with high caliber, rapid fire arsenals.

Donaire stops Nishioka in 9th round; Rios defeats Alvarado in 7th round TKO

09/14/201610/13/2012 ESB

By Rob Smith: In a really disappointing match, IBF/WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (30-1, 19 KO’s) easily defeated 36-year-old WAY best his best Toshiaki Nishioka (39-5-3, 24 KO’s) by a 9th round TKO on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center, in Carson, California, USA. Donaire knocked the reluctant Nishioka down twice in the fight, once in the 6th and finished him off with a right to the head in the 9th. Nishioka’s corner threw in the towel after the knockdown.

It was yet another one of Donaire’s disappointing fights because he had tried to sell the aging Nishioka as the best fighter in the super bantamweight division for weeks to boxing fans, saying he’s better than the top fighters. It was painfully obvious tonight that the fading Nishioka wasn’t what Donaire had said he was, and it’s just disappointing that Donaire won’t take on the best guys in the division like Abner Mares and Guillermo Rigondeaux instead of guys like Nishioka and Jeffrey Mathebula.

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In a toe-to-toe war, former WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios (31-0-1, 23 KO’s) defeated previously unbeaten Mike Alvarado (33-1, 23 KO’s) by a 7th round TKO on Saturday night to claim the vacant WBO Latino light welterweight title in their WBO light welterweight title eliminator bout.

Brandon Rios-Mike Alvarado: Excitement Guaranteed

10/13/201210/13/2012 ESB

By Peter Wells: While the main event between Toshiaki Nishioka and Nonito Donaire may turn out to be a contender for fight of the year, it still may not be the fight of the night. That’s because in the co-main event, Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado, two of the most entertaining fighters in boxing square off in what could very well be one of the greatest fights in a long time.

Both fighters are unbeaten, they have a combined record of 63-0-1 – Brandon Rios drew in a 10 rounder 4 years ago. Not only that but Brandon Rios has 22 knockouts from 30 wins while Alvarado has 23 knockouts from 33 wins. Alvarado’s opposition though isn’t a shade on Rios’, but the way he has dispatched those put in front of him shows he is ready for this step up in class. 16 of those knockouts for Alvarado have come in the first 4 rounds. His most impressive victory came in November last year when he came from behind to stop the tough Breidis Prescott in the final round. Alvarado suffered a horrific laceration on the corner of his upper lip, but battled though, wearing his opponent down before a late stoppage.

Nonito Donaire vs. Toshiaki Nishioka & Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado: Weigh-in report

09/14/201610/13/2012 ESB

By Joseph Herron: Earlier today from the Marriott Manhattan Beach on the southern California coastline, all four marquee fighters participating in tomorrow night’s HBO Boxing After Dark double header, Donaire vs. Nishioka and Rios vs. Alvarado, stepped on the official California State Athletic Commission scale to gain their respective division eligibility.

If the crowd in attendance anticipated some heated moments throughout the media event, they were ultimately disappointed. All four combatants were professional and courteous to their respective foes during the entire Top Rank special presentation.

The big question going into the official weigh-in was whether or not Brandon Rios was finally going to make the division weight limit to become eligible to compete for the WBO Latino Junior Welterweight title tomorrow night.

Before his previous two bouts, “Bam Bam” twice failed to make the Lightweight division limit of 135 pounds and wasn’t permitted to compete for the WBA lightweight Championship, although ultimately being cleared to fight.

Before the event, trainer Robert Garcia insisted that Brandon would be able to make 140 pounds comfortably.

Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios vs. Mike Alvarado: Expert trainer analysis

09/14/201610/13/2012 ESB

By Joseph Herron: In the co-main event of the greatly anticipated doubleheader on October 13th, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA, undefeated former WBO Lightweight Champion Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios (30-0-1, 22 KOs) will be competing in the talent enriched Junior Welterweight division for the first time against the dangerous and unbeaten Mike “Mile High” Alvarado (33-0, 23 KOs) from Denver, Colorado.

“The Pugilist KOrner’s” expert boxing strategist, James Gogue, believes the ten round special event has the makings of a potential “Fight of the Year” candidate.

“This is a fight fan’s dream match-up that has become a stark reality this Saturday,” claims the 29 year experienced trainer. “I know a lot of praise always goes to the promoter and matchmaker whenever a beautifully brutal style match-up like this one is made, but the true credit goes to the fighters who are willing to enter the ring and face the toughest opponents in their respective weight class.”

“These are two undefeated fighters who have a history of imposing their will onto every opponent they’ve faced up to this point; two fighters who don’t like to take a back step to their adversary. Who will eventually get their way in the ring on October 13th? This is a real 50/50 fight in which I can’t really picture either man conceding to defeat.”

Rios vs. Alvarardo winner could face Pacquiao in April, says Arum

09/14/201610/11/2012 ESB

By Rob Smith: Top Rank promoter really loves the idea of putting the winner of this Saturday’s clash between Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado in with Manny Pacquiao next April. Arum happens to promote all three fighters so it’s an easy thing for him to make this fight.

In an interview with the Manila Standard, Arum said Pacquiao and the winner of the Rios-Alvarado fight “Could be unbelievable. The public would go crazy for that fight. Imagine Manny against either of these animals. Manny will have to become an animal himself.”

Rios vs. Alvarado: There Will Be Blood

09/14/201610/10/2012 ESB

By John G. Thompson: This coming Saturday night Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios (30-0-1, 22 KO’s) will face Mike “Mile High” Alvarado (33-0, 23 KO’s) in the ring at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California televised on HBO Boxing After Dark. While the outcome of this fight is as hard to predict as Rios’ conditioning, one thing is certain – when these two aggressive power punchers meet there will be blood.

Rios of nearby Oxnard, California (born in Lubbock, Texas) is just twenty-six years old, but has already battled weight issues in his last two fights, losing his WBA World Lightweight title on the scales in July of last year. Rios was an experienced and decorated amateur with about 275 bouts and was the 2004 United States Amateur Featherweight Champion and a 2004 Olympic alternate for the USA.

Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado: Fighting for respect on October 13th

09/14/201610/05/2012 ESB

(Photo credit: Adrian Hernandez) By Joseph Herron: In the midst of making their final preparations for their highly anticipated October 13th showdown at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios (30-0-1, 22 KOs) and “Mile High” Mike Alvarado (33-0, 23 KOs) have made it abundantly clear that winning the fight isn’t their lone objective.

“I want to make history on October 13th,” proclaimed Brandon Rios. “I want to make a statement in my fight with Mike Alvarado and show everyone a legendary battle. I’ve always wanted to be a part of a fight like Gatti/Ward. Hopefully my fight with Alvarado on October 13th is that fight.”

“I love to fight. I love hitting people in the face and I love to get hit. A heavyweight could punch me and I’d still love it.”

“The way I fight and the way he fights, it’s going to be a war. I know it’s going to be a tough fight but it’s going to be an exciting fight for the fans. We both have the same styles and I don’t change my style for anyone.”

Nishioka vs Donaire, Rios vs Alvarado: Prepare For Warefare

09/14/201609/07/2012 ESB

By Mark Klimaszewski – On October 13th, The Home Depot. Centre in Carson, California will see a superb double-header of boxing entertainment. Featuring the 122lb clash between Japanese “Speed-king” Toshiaki Nishioka and “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire; and it’s saliva inducing co-feature, the 140lb battle between undefeated “Mile High” Mike Alvarado against (also undefeated) former Lightweight World Champion Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios.

This is the kind of billing for fans to get excited about! In Nishioka v Donaire you have what will be a superbly technical, fast-paced chess match that will gather momentum and develop into a full blown war. Nishioka looked brilliant in his outpointing of Mexican hall-of-famer Rafael Marquez in November of last year; his speed and accuracy looked daunting for any potential opponent whilst he really seemed comfortable in there. Toshiaki appears to be at his physical peak right now and is a mouth-watering style match up for his slick, hard-hitting and maybe equally as fast opponent Donaire.

The Flash has struggled to find some career-defining fights outside of his huge upset stoppage victory over the then ultra-formidable knock out artist, Vic Darchinyan, and his shocking 2nd round demolition of then-unified 118lb champ Fernando Montiel. Nonito’s left hook was the deciding factor in both those fights and will be a dangerous prospect for the speedy Japanese southpaw. However, Donaire hasn’t looked overly impressive since his big win over Montiel and if Nishioka can avoid that left he will surely possess the speed to beat him to the punch through the mid to late rounds. Of course, that’s a big “if”.