Rios TKO 7 Alvarado: Rios and Alvarado produe the fight of the year

Epic: Rios-Alvarado is up there with the greatest fights in history

By Peter Wells: Before the two fighters had even come near to stepping in the ring with each other, the fight was already recieving comparisons to that of the great trilogy between Arturo Gatti and Mickey Ward. Talk about pressure to deliver, but for both Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado, this was just another fight for them. Just like Gatti and Ward, they fought the way they always fought, toe-to-toe traded leather until they had battered their opponent into submission.

So no one was surprised when the two engaged at centre ring, but what was surprising was just how good it was. Alvarado used his jab effectively to set up vicous combinations while "Bam Bam" Rios just kept charging forwards slugging away on the inside. Neither fighter wanted to give the other a second to think, but warriors like these dont need time to think, they just 'do'. The only negative I can pull from the fight is that the Nonito Donaire-Toshiaki Nishioka fight that followed never came close to producing the fireworks that the co-main event did. To put it plainly, it raised the level of expectation to high.



Celebration: Rios celebrates him best win yet

Although I missed the first I got the impression that Rios did the better work, getting on the inside early, while Alvarado attempted to establish his jab, as he did all night. Alvarado did well in the second and third rounds, keeping Rios on the outside before pasting him with hard shots. I commented after the third round that Alvarado can hurt Rios, and after the fight he admitted that Alvarado did hurt him with some of his punches. Rios though never showed it, smiling at Alvarado everytime the two finished a trade of punches.

The fight was only just warming up and Rios edged the 4th as the fight started to become a battle of hooks and uppercuts. Body shots were also key for Rios, who was able to slam hooks to Alvarado's ribs to bring his gloves down, opening him up more upstairs. The 5th those was the peak of the fight, a leader for round of the year. Alvarado dished out a lot of punishment in the first half of the round, evening forcing Rios to take momentary steps back. Then Rios got back on the inside and both of the fighters traded for nearly a minute without a break. It was breathtaking stuff, the kind of brilliance that makes you stand up and applaud behind your screen.

When the two fighters stood to start the 6th they both gave each other a grin. They knew they were putting on a show for the crowd, and they were also enjoying it themselves. The 6th couldn't quite live up to the action in the 5th, but it was mightily close as the two got back to trading bombs. At the start of the round Alvarado looked to be taking control of the fight before two big right hands landed flush on Alvarado's chin. It was the first time in the fight that someone looked shaken, but not for long as he resumed firing back. Suddenly it was obvious that the last 3 rounds had become, Rios' rounds. Rios had dragged Alvarado into a slugfest, but for once he wasn't in total control.

Finisher: Rios stops Alvarado in the 7th to leave the fans begging for more

Then in the 7th round, the end came. Never have I been so sad to see the end of a fight in my life. As Rios pilled forward again another monster right hand shook Alvarado to his boots. Rios smelled blood and followed up with a barrage of punches that would have sent a lesser fighter to the canvas. Alvarado tried everything to get out of the way. Finally after another left-right landed flush Pat Russell stepped in to stop the contest. There was no doubt it was a good stoppage, but I couldn't help feeling dissapointed that Alvarado didn't take a knee, but when you're a warrior like Alvarado taking a knee is blasphamy.

It was quite an amazing fight, but Pat Russell reminded us after the fight that a fighters safety comes first. We were given an epic fight but as brutal as boxing is we never wish to see a fighter get hurt. Pat Russell did his job, and did it well.

As for a rematch, well, who wouldn't wish to see that again?