?Stealing shows is what I do,? said undefeated light welterweight, Mike Alvarado immediately following his all out war with Riverside?s Mauricio Herrera at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Reportedly thirty seven hundred in attendance sat on the edge of their seats for ten dynamic, action packed rounds as an epic firefight unfolded in front of their eyes. And when the dust settled all three judges scored the fight in favor of Mike Alvarado. Judge Robert Hoyle had it 99-91, judge Duane Ford 97-93 and Dave Moretti scored it 96-94, but the score cards did not indicate the high drama and close competitive nature of each round.
Herrera drew first blood as Mike Alvarado came out bleeding from the nose for the second stanza in which he returned a favor busting up a left eye of Herrera. It was a toe to toe battle from the onset for the first five rounds with Alvarado being an aggressor and the stronger man in the ring and Herrera being a very effective counter puncher off the ropes.
Action slowed down a little in the sixth. They fought on the outside for the majority of another very competitive round which ended with the flurry from both fighters. Seventh round was a firefight with both warriors giving it all, but the fighter from Denver looked the stronger man and began to assert his dominance.Doctor came to corner of Herrera to check on his closing left eye,but allowed the action to go on. War of attrition continued in the eighth. Alvarado was more aggressive, but just when you thought he was taking controlof the figh tHerrera returned fire in combinations.Alvarado did more damage in the ninth pressing his opponent on the ropes and unleashing furious fire.
? He was very durable,? said Alvarado of his opponent Herrera whose punches lost steam by that time:? He was very tough but didn?t have the power to stop me. I f stepped on the gas more I would have stopped him.?
Crowd roared and applauded the effort in the beginningof the tenth and final stanza that had both regal warriors leave everything out in the ring in the early candidate for the round of the year and a fight of the year.
Juan Manuel Marquez defeated Serhiy Fedchenko later on that night in Mexico City. ?I want Marquez,? exclaimed Alvarado after the fight:? I deserve Marquez and I am ready for Marquez. I paid my dues. I have no weight issues.?
According to Top Rank?s boss, Bob Arum, July 14th is the date reserved for Marquez?s next fight at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Would the slugger from Denver get his wish to fight Marquez? ?Alvarado put himself in a very good position with what he did on Saturday,? said Arum.
