01.09.07 – By Gary Jones: NABO welterweight champion Shamone Alvarez (19-0, 11 KOs) retained his title by winning a 12-round unanimous decision over 37-year old Germain Sanders (27-4, 17 KOs) on Friday night at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey..
In a battle between two welterweight fighters in their 30s – both mainly considered ring technicians – Alvarez built up and early lead, and held onto it during the second half of the fight when Sanders made a surge that came up short. Alvarez, 30, ranked # 9 in the WBO, used steady combinations to the midsection and head to easily win the first five rounds of the fight. During these rounds, Sanders was very economical with his punches, looking as if he was trying to pick the perfect spot to unload with his right hand.
In the sixth round and seventh rounds, Sanders finally came alive and opened up with a fierce attack of mostly right hands and driving back Alvarez. Although he didn’t use his left hand much other than as a pawing range finder, Sanders didn’t need it because his right hand controlled the action.
Alavarez came on strong in the 8th and 9th rounds, landing numerous combinations to the midsection of Sanders and hitting him with an occasional jab. The punches weren’t thrown very hard, due to Alvarez’s limited power, but they were effective at keeping Sanders away and thus winning the rounds. Alvarez, a converted southpaw, still ate more than a few right hands from Sanders, who had little trouble landing when he was so inclined.
In rounds ten through twelve, Sanders came on strong, going right hand crazy again and landed effectively. At times, he backed Alvarez to the ropes and tagged him with repeated right hands to the head. Alvarez took the shots well, but retaliated less and less, mostly focusing on moving and trying to avoid Sander’s hard right hand shots.
I gave Sanders the last three rounds largely due to his work with his right hand and Alvarez’s tendency to stay on the outside. The final punch stats were 242/887 (punches landed/punches thrown) for Alvarez – 27% – and 149/472 for Sanders – 32%.
Unfortunately for Sanders, he gave up too many of the early rounds with his lack of work, and if he had come on earlier, he would have had a very good chance of pulling out the win.