Alvarado Shines, Sanchez Struggles In Albuquerque By Jake Donovan (May 10, 2008) Send this page to friend Give us your feedback It was a tale of two wins in the co-feature and main event of Telefutura's Solo Boxeo Tecate telecast from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Undefeated junior welterweight contender Mike Alvarado made a statement in blasting Michel Rosales in seven rounds in their main event, while hometown favorite Ray Sanchez III struggled in outlasting Patrick Thompson in their ten-round junior middleweight co-feature. The win was easily the most impressive performance of Alvarado's young and still-improving career, though it took a round or two to get going. Alvarado, who was ½ lb above the contracted 143 lb limit for the fight, appeared sluggish at the start of the fight, maintaining a tight guard while working largely behind his jab. Rosales attempted to make a fight of it, but had difficulty finding openings of any kind. Things picked up toward the end of the round, with Alvarado landing a left hook and Rosales connecting with consecutive right hands upstairs. Action picked up in the second, a round mostly spent in a phone booth. A right hand by Alvarado got Rosales' attention and woke up the crowd. A right hand early in the third stopped Rosales in his tracks, with a follow-up left hook snapping back his head. As the round wore on, Alvarado was able to integrate a right uppercut into his offense, which helped present a target for his straight right, which was landing with alarming regularity. Confident he can take Rosales' best and deliver twice as much in return, Alvarado began to let his hands go more in the fourth. He hit a nice groove until action was improperly halted by referee Rocky Burke, overzealous in replacing Rosales' dislodged mouthpiece. Alvarado walked away in frustration, emphatically shaking his head to let the ref know the unnecessary break bought his opponent enough time to clear the cobwebs and survive the round. As was the case in the preceding two rounds, the fifth was all Alvarado, as Rosales' tank was quickly running on empty. There was no quit in the Mexican, though it was clear that he was dangerously close to the point of no return. It didn't get any better for him in the sixth; there was nary a punch Alvarado didn't land. Consecutive right hands had Rosales on unsteady legs toward the end of the round, with Alvarado pouncing on his foe until the bell. The end was in sight, but Alvarado remained as calm as an assassin in the seventh – and ultimately, final – round. A left hook sent Rosales reeling into the corner, and Alvarado never let up, unloading along the ropes, including two rights and two left hooks that had Rosales' eyes rolling toward the back of his head. Referee Rocky Burke jumped in to save the Mexican from further punishment, to where Rosales was unaware the fight was stopped in struggling to regain his senses. The official time was 1:28 of the seventh round. Alvarado improves to 21-0 (14KO) with the win, his second of 2008. Both bouts served as separate Telefutura main events, though tonight might be his last fight for a while on the Solo Boxeo circuit. The junior welterweight boxer-puncher is rapidly approaching contender status, with his eye on a title shot later this year. Rosales, a once-promising prospect, heads in the opposite direction. He dips to 16-2 (14KO) with the loss, his first since 2006, when he had the fight beaten out of him by Jesus Soto-Karass in an all-out war. The loss snaps a four-fight win streak. The co-feature battle featured as much action from bell to bell as it offered drama in the end, as hometown favorite Ray Sanchez III barely escaped with a majority decision over journeyman Patrick Thompson. The bout was Sanchez' first since suffering a 6th round knockout loss to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr last December, which also took place in Albuquerque. The Chavez Jr fight was among the year's most underrated brawls; tonight's bout was entertaining and competitive as well, which for Sanchez is not a compliment. A feel-'em out first round went Sanchez' way after a looping left hand momentarily turned the tide in his favor. It didn't last long, with Thompson roaring back in the second round, trading with the hometown kid, including a sharp counter right that snapped back Sanchez' head. It was an awkward affair in the third round before Sanchez found his comfort zone in the fourth. Both rounds featured Sanchez fighting in reverse, though far more effectively in the fourth round, where he was able to pick his shots while avoiding return fire. The tactic allowed Sanchez to land his straight left hand or, at the very least, keep Thompson at bay. Thompson gave Sanchez a reason to fight in reverse in the fifth, bull rushing the hometown kid into the ropes while attempting to attack the body. Sanchez eventually escaped from harm's way, but was reduced to reaching with his left while Thompson remained on the hunt. A body shot midway through the sixth took the wind out Thompson's sail, enabling Sanchez to reestablish distance and timing his left hand from the outside. A 1-2 had Thompson briefly on unsteady legs, but was able to clinch and survive the round. It worked so well that he came out gunning in the seventh, forcing Sanchez on the defensive for the first half of the round. Sanchez pressed in the final minute, though nothing in the way of favorable results. Fatigue began to set in for both fighters in the eighth round, which led to excessive clinching and awkward infighting. Thompson's best punch of the round, a right hand that landed as Sanchez was turning away, was negated by the referee's warning for hitting from behind. Thompson atoned for the infraction moments later, with a right hand sending Sanchez into the ropes, putting him in reverse mode for the final 30 seconds. The two went toe-to-toe in the ninth, with Sanchez getting the best of the exchange until getting rocked by a right hand, nearly grazing the canvas with his glove in efforts to steady himself. It was more of the same in the final round, except Sanchez managed to slip most of the return fire while catching his foe with uppercuts and straight lefts. Thompson was running on empty; most of his connects were arm punches with little oomph behind them. Sanchez' shots were far more crisp and thrown with conviction, particularly his left hand underneath. The strong finish was enough for Sanchez to preserve his lead on the scorecards. An even verdict of 95-95 was overruled by scores of 96-94 and a seemingly off 97-93 for the hometown kid, who improves to 21-1 (15KO) with his first win in nearly a year. Thompson's record levels off at 13-13-1 (5KO) with the loss, having now dropped eight of his last 11, over a two-year stretch. Alvarado stable mate Ricky Lopez made a successful debut with a highlight reel knockout of Nick Arellano in the televised swing bout. It was mostly one way, but appeared to be heading for the scorecards before Lopez erupted with a left hook that forced Arellano to lean back. The journeyman crashed hard to the canvas, before struggling to his feet to beat the count. It was for naught, as he was counted out with just 20 seconds left in the fight. The Denver-based Lopez is now 1-0 (1KO). Arellano returns to Chicago with a record of 1-4. The show was presented by Top Rank, Inc. For Questions or Comments E-mail Jake Donovan Today's Boxing Press Discuss this Topic - Go to the forums