Mike Alvarado

Mike Alvarado is a retired American professional boxer who held the WBO light welterweight title in 2013. Over the course of his career, Alvarado competed in a total of 45 fights, securing 40 wins, 28 of which were KO wins, and suffered only 5 losses, all of which were in non-title bouts. He never won a title, and he never defended any title. All of his title fights were without winning the overall fight, and all of his losses by stoppages were outside of the title bouts. This article will delve into his career, achievements, notable fights, and other intriguing details.

Alvarado began his professional boxing career in 2004 at the age of 23, where he defeated Istafa Jihad via 1st round KO. He went on to win 32 more consecutive fights after that, including 22 wins via stoppage. His first world title fight came in 2013 when he faced Ruslan Provodnikov for the WBO title. Unfortunately, Alvarado lost the fight via 10th round RTD. Among his career highlights, some of Alvarado's best fights and notable victories include wins over Brandon Ríos, Breidis Prescott, Ray Narh, Mauricio Herrera, Martín Ángel Martínez, Lenin Arroyo, and Miguel Ángel Huerta.

Alvarado was born on July 28, 1980, in Denver, Colorado, which is where he first started his professional boxing career. He started his career as a light welterweight but later moved on to the welterweight division. As an orthodox fighter, Alvarado's boxing style mainly consisted of body shots and counter punching. He often relied on his ability to take punches, and his ability to outlast his opponents throughout long and taxing fights.

Throughout his career, Alvarado fought against some of the most prominent names in the sport. One of his most significant fights came in 2012 when he faced off against Brandon Rios. Both fighters came into the fight undefeated, but Rios ultimately came out on top, stopping Alvarado in the 7th round via TKO. Despite the loss, Alvarado was praised for his perseverance and ability to battle through adversity during the fight. Their second meeting in 2013 was a different story, as Alvarado changed his tactics and won the intensively contested fight via unanimous decision.

Alvarado's fight against Mauricio Herrera was another notable bout in his career. Herrera was a top light welterweight contender at the time, and Alvarado beat him to the punch, landing his harder punches throughout the fight. By the middle rounds, Alvarado had taken control of the fight, and he began to tee off on Herrera, whose eye had become entirely closed by rounds 9 and 10. The fighters ended the fight in the 12th round, trading blows in the middle of the ring. Alvarado was awarded the clear unanimous decision win, with scores of 99–91, 97–93, and 96–94.

Alvarado's next significant fight was against Ruslan Provodnikov. Prior to the bout, Alvarado was elevated by the WBO to full title holder of the WBO light welterweight championship (as opposed to interim title holder), thus making the fight against Provodnikov Alvarado's first defense of the full title. Unfortunately, Alvarado lost the fight via stoppage in the 10th round. However, he still showcased his ability to take punches and fight through adversity, which made the fight an instant classic.

Although Alvarado never won a world title, he still managed to have an incredible career, becoming one of the most exciting boxers in the sport. He was known for his toughness, heart, and ability to put on tremendous battles while executing his tactical game plan. His numerous fights both in and outside of the ring made him a fan-favorite, and his never-say-die attitude earned him a lot of respect in the industry.

In addition to his boxing career, Alvarado also faced some legal troubles. He had to serve a five-month prison sentence and was subsequently in and out of jail due to parole violations. Despite these challenges, Alvarado was determined to continue his career and return to boxing, which he did in grand fashion with a 2nd-round KO of Lenin Arroyo. His commitment to the sport and his perseverance through adversity made him a role model in the eyes of many fans and fellow boxers alike.

Since his last fight against Arnold Barboza Jr. on April 12, 2019, Alvarado has retired from professional boxing. With a total career record of 40 wins, 28 of which were via KO, and only 5 losses, Alvarado has left a lasting legacy in the sport. His ability to put on exciting fights while executing his game plan made him a fan-favorite, while his toughness and perseverance through adversity made him a role model to young boxers today. Without a doubt, Mike Alvarado will always be remembered as one of the most exciting and accomplished fighters to ever step into the ring.

Mike Alvarado Fight Record