By Chris Williams: If you were hoping that Top Rank would come up with an exciting replacement bout to substitute for the lightweight rematch between WBC lightweight champion Humberto Soto and Urbano Antillon, I’m afraid fans are going to be sadly disappointed. Instead of a comparable fight to replace Antillon-Soto, the replacement fight will reportedly be a bout between fringe light welterweight contender Mike Alvarado 29-0, 21 KO’s) vs. Ray Narh (25-1, 21 KO’s).

I’m sorry but that’s not a good replacement for Soto-Antillon. Alvarado, now 30, has been taking his time with stepping it up a level and should have already taken on a top tier fighter by now to get a title shot. His last fight was against Dean Harrison in February, beating him by a 4th round stoppage. Alvarado needs to have taken on a guy like Harrison two or three years ago, not after seven years as a pro.

Narh is 32-years-old and ranked #6 by the WBC. He defeated an old Freddie Norwood in his last fight, beating him by a 10 round decision in March. Before that, he’s beaten guys like Angel Hernandez and Mateze Logan. Like Alvarado, Narh has been in the slow lane with his career and is now in his 10th year as a pro. He should have been much more advanced than he is.

Frankly, I think this is a poor replacement fight for Soto vs. Antillon. However, the Alvardo-Narh is a good fight for boxing fans to go to the refrigerator, go to the bathroom or make a phone call while they wait for the Pacquiao – Mosley fight to come up.