Rocky Juarez (30-10-1, 20 KOs) scored a unanimous decision victory over Rene Alvarado (20-3, 14 KOs) at the Fort Bliss Theatre in El Paso, Texas. The bout was the main event of a card presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Fox Sports.
In what was a much closer fight than what the judges’ scorecards suggest, Juarez began the fight on this back foot as Alvarado relentlessly applied pressure.
Alvarado was controlling the fight from the very beginning, walking Juarez down for most of the early rounds and landing right hands, body shots and short uppercuts.
Juarez, however, the 34-year-old veteran who has shared the ring with the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera, did not allow Alvarado to continue his pressure.
Juarez took control in the middle rounds, landing overhand rights with much more precision.
In rounds seven and eight, Juarez began walking Alvarado down, as Alvarado’s fatigue became clear.
Alvarado would find a second wind before the fight’s end, engaging with Juarez in round 12 and receiving a thunderous left hook in the process.
The judges scored the bout 117-111, 116-111, and 116-111.
Juarez is now the WBC Silver Featherweight champion and could be looking at a title shot against Jhonny Gonzalez.
Ryan Karl (1-0, 1 KO) knocked out Wilbert Mitchell (1-10) in the second round of a scheduled four-round Welterweight fight.
The Houston, Texas native made his professional debut in exciting fashion as he chased Mitchell around the ring, finally cornering him with solid body shots at the end of the first round.
Karl found it easier to corner Mitchell against the ropes in the second round as he landed powerful right hands that forced Referee Steve Smoger to quickly stop the fight.
Keandre Gibson (10-0-1, 5 KOs) knocked out John Nater (13-5, 10 KOs) in the fourth round of a scheduled six-round Welterweight fight.
The 24-year-old had a successful amateur career with 114 bouts before debuting as a professional in 2010.
Gibson used a quick jab and counter left hook to control the early part of the fight.
In the fourth round, Gibson landed a powerful right hand to Nater’s ribcage as Nater was stepping around Gibson’s jab.
Nater could not see the right hand that he believed was aimed at his head.
Gibsn, who is from St. Louis, Missouri, remains undefeated in 11 professional bouts.
The televised event started with an amateur boxing bout between Alexandra Love (51-8) and Juliette Ladisa (13-5).
The bout was scheduled for four rounds as a much older and more experienced Love dominated Ladisa for most of the fight.
The 17-year-old Ladisa was much younger, but managed to land a few hard shots on the taller and longer 24-year-old Love before losing a unanimous decision.
Jim Ross About His Boxing Debut
