Alvarado returns from layoff to stop Corral in 3rd

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Alvarado_winsMike Alvarado made quick work of his opponent, Saul Corral, in their welterweight co-feature on Juan Diaz’s undercard in Houston, Texas. Alvarado was returning from his January 2015 loss to Brandon Rios in what was their third and final match in the rivalry. The conclusion of the Rios-Alvarado rubber match left many to believe that we’d likely never see Alvarado in the ring again, he echoed those sentiments in some regards. Yet, he managed to come back on a card dedicated to the comeback, and he did so at the 147lb weight class he will now campaign at.

 

Alvarado didn’t look great considering the 3rd round stoppage. In fact, Corral looked like he’d take control of the fight early on, and he did, as his high punch output was enough to gain the advantage over the 35-year-old fighter from Colorado. It was likely Corral’s plan to go after the fighter returning from a long layoff with the notion that Alvarado would start slow and need more time to get into a grove.

 

It did take Alvarado more time, one round more, in fact, and by the second round Alvarado was in control utilizing his power shots.

 

In the third, Alvarado, who had landed flush shots that hurt Corral, was able to close the show following a left hand that opened Corral up enough so that Alvarado was able to land a devastating right hand which sent his opponent to the canvas. The referee waved off the fight without a count.

 

Alvarado will likely need another fight or two like this against similar opposition before jumping into the mix at welterweight. Given his age and the amount of wars he has been through, it would serve everyone involved, or anyone with Alvarado’s best interests in mind, to allow the former junior welterweight titlist a very short leash at this stage in his career.

 

The best part about Alvarado’s game is also the most dangerous to him at this stage. The fact that Alvarado is so easy to match given his fan-friendly style will also give consideration to his handlers to overreach at this stage. Of course, we all want to see action fights with guys like Alvarado, but the risk must be considered more than ever.