Brandon Rios (31-0, 23 KOs) and Mike Alvarado (33-1, 23 KOs) did what they promised. The two human highlight reels battled tooth and nail at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Ca. with Rios eventually stopping the previously undefeated Alvarado in round seven. The fight was televised on HBO'S "Boxing After Dark" and was featured on the undercard of the Nonito Donaire vs. Toshiaka Nishioka mainevent.

At the opening bell the fighters met in the center of the ring. They jabbed at each other until Rios landed a hard right to the side of Alvarado’s chin. Rios followed his right with a hard right. Alvarado countered with his own combination that stopped Rios in his tracks. Rios found Alvarado with his left. The Denver fighter fought back with a cracking combination to end an exciting first round.

In round two, Rios stalked. Alvarado continued to work his jab. The bombers traded big uppercuts. A huge right hand almost put Rios down. A double left hook by Rios stung Alvarado. Near the end of the round the fighters again traded leather. Rios landed two left hooks. Alvarado snapped Rios head back with a right hand.

Round three calmed a bit in the first minute. Alvarado’s longer reach was giving him an advantage. Rios was finding out that hurting the bigger man was difficult. Rios landed two hard left hooks. Alvarado stung Rios with a long right. The fighters again traded at the bell with neither taking a step back.

In Round four Alvarado cracked Rios with a heavy right. Rios worked the body. Alvarado kept his distance with an effective jab. Rios dug some more shots to the body. Alvarado continued to outbox Rios.

Round five saw Alvarado continue his onslaught. His short punches were causing problems. Alvarado landed head bobbing combination that hurt Rios. Rios iron chin was saving him, but his counters weren’t hurting Alvarado. On the inside, his hooks were effective.

Alvarado landed another hard right hand a few seconds into round six. Alvarado’s volume of punching was impressive. He was averaging over a 100 punches a round. With 30 seconds to go in the stanza, Rios landed a very heavy right hand that hurt Alvarado. Rios was tired, but determined. His fans were chanting his name.

Round seven saw Alvarado back to jabbing. Rios continued to look to land his right. He knew he had hurt Alvarado in the previous round. A little past the one minute mark, Rios found the opening he needed. His explosive overhand punch thudded off Alvarado’s chin stopping him in his tracks. Rios followed up his advantage with another right and left. Alvarado stumbled to ropes and caught another right forcing referee Pat Russell to jump in and stop the contest.

The official time was 1:57 of round seven.

“I wish it could have gone longer, “said Rios in the ring.

“I thought the fight was stopped a little too early,” Alvarado said.

Can anybody say rematch?

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