Mike Alvarado did the tough job that was needed to come away with a decision, but he took a terrible beating along the way at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas. His decision win was a tribute to his courage and ability to keep on keeping on, avoiding the many kayo shots coming his way, which allowed him to come away with a decision. But, if there’s a third fight, don’t bet on him being able to do it again.
The physical appearance of the winner and loser during the post fight interview chaos made one wonder how Alvarado pulled it off. His face was a bloody pulp, and Rios was still bouncing around like the Energizer Bunny. Rios definitely took plenty of hard shots too, but the damage was much less evident on his kisser or his post fight demeanor.
It’s doubtful whether Rios was being totally truthful when telling HBO announcer Max Kellerman he hadn’t been rocked by his conqueror, but it was also true he wasn’t shook enough to lessen the “dangerous when wet” sign that should have be pinned on his back. Once Rios works up a sweat, watch out! Even as the end approached, viewers knew he could still end it at any time. His shots were still full of power, and whistling on straight, short pathways. Unfortunately for him, they were just barely missing, and Alvarado was bouncing side to side enough to keep Rios from throwing the combinations he really desired.
Middleweight Brian Vera (23-6, 13 KO’s) got a lucky break tonight when the referee Charlie Fitch stopped a fight that Vera was clearly losing to Donatas Bondorovas (17-4-1, 6 KO’s) after the 7th round because of two small cuts that Bondorovas in their fight at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, USA.
By Jeff Sorby: You’ve got to give Robert Stieglitz (44-3, 25 KO’s) a ton of credit tonight for putting together the perfect game plan to stop WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (36-4, 28 KO’s) in the 4th round in Magdeburg, Germany. Stieglitz’s plan was a simple one. Come out fast and overwhelm Abraham’s turtle shell defense with punches in the first part of the fight. 
By Vladimir S: Robert Stieglitz (44-3, 25 KO’s) came out on fire tonight blasting away at WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (36-4, 28 KO’s) with punch after punch for the first three rounds, and it paid off by Stieglitz getting a 4th round TKO win after the fight was halted by the advice of the ringside doctor due to Abraham’s left eye closing on Saturday night at the GETEC Arena, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Allemagne, Germany.
By Jeff Sorby: Adonis Stevenson (20-1, 17 KO’s) was able to avenge his defeat against journeyman Darnell Boone (19-21-3, 8 KO’s) by giving him a terrible beating and stopping him in the 6th round on Friday night at the Bell Centre, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 
By Vladimir S: IBF Inter-Continental heavyweight champion Odlanier Solis (19-1, 12 KO’s) successfully defended his title on Friday night in defeating previously unbeaten Leif Larsen (17-1, 14 KO’s) by a 12 round unanimous decision at the Universal Hall in Berlin, Germany.