Mike Alvarado vs. Gabriel Martinez & Roberto Marroquin vs. Jose Beranza RBR

Round 7

Martinez is throwing hard lefts, standing his ground. Alvarado can't get through as Martinez fires both hands at him in straight lines, but still tries to bull his way in. Alvarado is dropping those right hands as he comes in. Martinez is forced to duck his head down and give some ground up. Alvarado nearly trips over his own feet trying to blast Martinez against the ropes, with Martinez doing some nimble work to get past him. They clinch and both smack each other hard in the back of the head while knotted up.

Martinez's best round, but still not quite enough.

 

Round 8

Alvarado jabs and then swings his left arm at his side in the orthopedic sling manner. Martinez is pushed to the ropes and popped in the face with hard jabs every time he spreads his hands to begin a flurry. He still isn't getting caught flush with the powerful overhand right of Alvarado as he's able to anticipate it and tie up every time he's hit with the jab. Martinez is only flurrying until Alvarado jabs, wisely not wanting to stay open to get clocked with one of those rights. Alvarado is connecting with them bluntly and driving Martinez back several steps when he does. Martinez's glove is coming untaped. Martinez clinches. Time out to fix the tape. Only one second left in the round. Time in, and they ring the bell. Pointless.

80-71 Alvarado

 

Round 9

Alvarado comes running in and throwing hard rights behind the jab. Martinez tries to hold and then goes to a knee complaining that one of Alvarado's shots was to the back of the neck. Mr. Thrasher rules no knockdown. Martinez takes a moment to "recover". Alvarado chases with his jab, and keeps winging that hard overhand right (the same one that Martinez has twice complained of being a rabbit punch, despite being thrown from dead on in front of him). Alvarado comes forward and slips a Martinez jab, waiting patiently for Martinez to back himself into a corner. Alvarado drops his left hand below his waist and crouches forward as he comes in, in an odd stance which Sheridan's partner comments on. It works for him as he's able to land some jabs out of it while backing Martinez up.

90-80 Alvarado

 

So there is a trinket on the line, but this is only 10 rounds? :think

 

Round 10

Alvarado blocks a Martinez 1-2 thrown while circling. Alvarado is just turning and watching Martinez, seeing if he's going to make a move. When he doesn't Alvarado falls in with a jab and overhand right. Martinez is affected and tries to hold as Alvarado lands a left hook and right hand combo inside. Martinez throws several desperate and furious shots back but can't land cleanly. Alvarado keeps pounding away with the overhand right, thrown at a measured pace. Lots of posing and watching. Martinez is hanging on the outside, by the ropes. Alvarado falls in with a right, and there's a clinch. Martinez throws a jab and uppercut combo, sliding against Alvarado's gloves. Martinez is grabbing after every single shot or short combo he throws. Alvarado throws another powerful overhand right and drives Martinez several feet back to the ropes with it. Alvarado keeps working until the final bell and gets a huge ovation.

100-89 Alvarado

 

Official judges:

Ed Kugler 99-90
Robert Hoyle 100-89
Blea 100-90

all for Alvarado, now the IBF Latino 140lb champion.

 

It wasn't the most impressive Alvarez has ever looked, nor was Martinez as tough a puzzle to solve as expected. It was a decent performance from a decent pressure fighter/boxer-puncher.