By Gerardo Granados: Next May 17 at the Forum Inglewood, California, U.S.A; the former multiple division champion veteran Juan Manuel Marquez (W55-L7-D1) returns to the ring against top contender Mike Alvarado (W34-L2-D0). In his last two fights “Mile high” Alvarado got to be considered for the fight of the year award, first against Brandon Rios wining a thrilling rematch and then lost a competitive battle against the current WBO light welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov. On the other corner “Dinamita” Marquez lost a close boxing match against Tim Bradley.
Both Rios and Provodnikov are pressure fighters and Alvarado is more of a boxer puncher and counter puncher than be considered as a brawler. Marquez is a great counter puncher also a boxer puncher but he can’t be considered to be as pressure fighter, so will this mix allow us to see a war? I believe it will.
Alvarado must win this fight, so that he can not only get a shot at Manny Pacquiao who holds the WBO welter strap; but also to open the door to the big fights and purses. Mike shouldn’t need to impress fight fans because after his last two bouts he has left a great impression to all of us but if he is able to dominate the veteran lion king Juan Manuel Marquez then he could find himself with a lot of attention from the boxing media.
Marquez wants to officially become the first Mexican boxer to win world championships in five weight divisions. I said officially because three years ago he got robbed by the fight judges when he fought Manny Pacquiao for the WBO welter belt. After that heinous act he picked the interim WBO light welter belt and then got promoted to the status of regular champion. I preferred to see Marquez engage Ruslan Provodnikov to legitimize his light welter belt but this is business so I guess Juan Manuel made the right choice.
If Marquez losses to Alvarado, then he should seriously consider retiring and that might be the only motivation he needs because his pride won’t allow him to lost two fights in a row at this stage of his boxing career. Mike also lost his last bout so if he wants to be considered as a threat then he must win this fight; as for motivation to face and defeat a future boxing hall of fame member should be enough.
Mike must take advantage of his height and reach, could fight on the mid and long range and establish a crisp jab preparing his left hook and uppercut when Marquez gets inside; maybe box going backwards until the middle of the fight and then pressure the fight in the late rounds. Juan Manuel need to stay busy during the rounds and not forget to pressure, he could counter with three or four punches mixing body and head shots on every single opening that he will get and of course move laterally.
Style makes fights they say. So, will this fight deliver a fight of the year performance?
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