Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Saturday night in Colorado, Brandon Rios (32-2-1, 23 KOs) and Mike Alvarado (34-3, 23 KOs) will look to add another thrilling chapter to their already legendary pair of fights.
After splitting the first two fights, the two warriors meet in a welterweight bout to settle the score once and for all. While Alvarado vs. Rios 3 is being fought for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) International welterweight championship, the fight is bigger than any belt.
Both men have stated that this fight is a do-or-die type affair and a loss could mean the end of either mans career.
Before Saturday nights showdown, RBRBoxing’s Lou Catalano and Peter Nieves go head-to-head and break down two keys to victory for each man.
Let us know who you think will win the final chapter of this epic saga!
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Key #1 for Mike Alvarado
Box from the Outside!
Photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images
By Peter Nieves
There’s a saying, the third times a charm. Mike Alvarado must surely hope so as he takes on Brandon Rios for a third time. It’s no secret to Brandon Rios that Alvarado can hit and hit hard enough to cause trouble in the ring. In their first bout, Alvarado started off strong using his naturally bigger size to control the ring and land the more potent punches.
As the fight progressed, it was Rios who got the better of Alvarado, landing so many shots on the inside that it was too much damage to the referee’s eyes and the fight was stopped. Alvarado learned his lesson the hard way but came back with a different game plan in the second fight. Fighting from the outside using his one-inch height and arm length advantage over Rios, Alvarado kept his opponent at bay and won on a close decision.
If Alvarado has learned anything from the past two encounters, it’s that Brandon has a hell of a chin and rarely takes a step back. Not only that Brandon doesn’t seem to mind getting hit! In order for Alvarado to be successful and close the books on this trilogy with a W, he’s going to have to win this fight by trying to outbox Rios.
This means staying on the outside, using his jab to set up his lethal right hand that stunned Rios in the past, and not getting too involved in those inside exchanges where it’s “you hit me, I hit you, and lets see who gets hurt first”. Rios has a pair of heavy hands and when fighting on the inside his uppercuts have to feel like brick. Alvarado will fair better if he stays away from them as much as possible.
Key #1 for Brandon Rios
Don’t Let Alvarado Breathe
Pressure. That’s the one thing Brandon Rios does exceptionally well. He applies that heat. He tests you, your will and your makeup.
He wears his man down due to sheer volume. Mike Alvarado has been through hell in his last couple of bouts, so Rios needs to let him know immediately that there will be no reprieve here.
He should stick his head right into Alvarado’s chest, and continue throwing bombs while he gives him the old Provodnikov treatment.
“Mile High” has been broken before. Rios needs to stay all over him until he breaks again.
Key #2 for Mike Alvarado
Watch for the Right Hand
The second key for Mike Alvarado is to stay away from Brandon Rios’ right hand!
Rios landed 182 power punches, most of which were (you guessed it) right hands. In the previous two encounters Rios had some success using his elbow-to-elbow high guard defense that would draw Alvarado in, and the next thing you know there was a barrage of uppercuts followed by right hands.
Deep down Alvarado wants to have another war but if he wants to have the best shot at defeating Rios, he has to avoid that right hand and box from the outside.
Key #2 for Brandon Rios
Go to War
By Lou Catalano
Mike Alvarado was able to hold Brandon Rios off in their second fight by boxing and creating distance. Rios can’t let him get away with that this time.
He has to force Alvarado into a brawl and then smash his head like a casaba melon. It’s brutal, but it’s the only way Rios knows how to win. The other thing is that Rios’ own dome is made of what appears to be the finest titanium insulation. If they go at it, Alvarado will blink first.
It certainly seems like Alvarado is the one with less gas in the tank, and he’s not the finest boxer in the world. Can he really keep Rios at bay for 12 rounds?
Rios needs to find out right from Round 1 exactly how much Alvarado really wants it. If it’s a war of attrition, Rios will claim the rubber match. And then probably say “fuck” a whole bunch of times.
