The 'Pitbull' Josh Torres Wins And Seeks Rematch With Mike Alvarado

By Andrew Rivera : Local boxer Josh Torres halted game Morris Rodriguez in the sixth round, headlining a six fight card by Legacy Promotions at the Route 66 Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Saturday.

Torres 17-6-2, came out early establishing his jab with right hands followed by lefts to the body to capture rounds one through three, but Rodriguez was game firing back occasionally to hold his own.

In round four, Torres picked up the pressure as Rodriquez 7-11-1, his face a mess from a cut over his eye, tried to land something with meaningful, but Torres was too big and strong landing almost at will on Rodriguez with hard right uppercuts and lefts to the body.

In the sixth with Torres in full control, landing a left and right hands pinning Rodriquez in the corner, leaving promoting referee Ricky Burke to halt the action at the :55 of round sixth round.

Torres said after the fight he’d like to have a rematch with former world champion Mike Alvarado, whom he fought to a disputed eight round loss a few years back in Texas.

It would be a chance for Torres to avenge his loss although Alvarado has been tentatively scheduled to face Manny Pacquiao in early summer.

I’d like to see Torres get his chance in a bigger fight as he is one of Boxings nice guys and deserves his chance. It’s time to get better competition for the ‘Pit-bull’.

In the co-main event unbeaten Jason Sanchez 12-0, fought his toughest opponent to date in veteran German Marez 58-47, capturing a unanimous eight round decision.

Sanchez kept Marez on the ropes most of the fight, applying pressure with a stiff jab and hard lefts to the body. Sanchez controlled the action throughout the fight using the same game plan to remain unbeaten by he scores of 80-72 on two cards and 79-74.

Making his pro debut , former top amateur Angel Perez made easy work of Levi Lucero. Perez pinned Lucero a former MMA competitor, also making his boxing debut in the corner and unleaded a great combination to halt his over matched foe at 1:25 of the opening stanza.

Ronnie Baca 3-0–1 halted pro debuter Alex Saucedo in the first round. Baca landed quick combos on the overmatched Saucedo, finally ending the action with a hard right hand, flooring Saucedo who didn’t beat the count.

In the opening bout of the night Gene Perez, Mr New Mexico’s “I’ll fight anyone” lost a four round split decision to Jose Prado.

Prado had success early and may have won 2 of the first 3 rounds but in the 4th he ride changed.
Perez put Prado down with a hard right hand. Prado was hurt and was lucky to finish the round.
It was a 10-8 round for Perez. Although two of the three judges felt it wasn’t enough for Perez as he falls to 2-12 , while Prado raises his record to 8-1.

In another quick fight Cristian Castillo raised his record to 2-0 with a first round stoppage of Timothy Ruiz , halting Ruiz in the opening round at the 1:26 mark.

It was another good card put on by Legacy Promotions and the Perez brothers. They do what they promote keeping fighters busy which I agree, but it be nice to step it up for the house fighters and stay away from pro debuters or and to no disrespect MMA fighters making the jump to boxing.

Lastly an announced rubber match between Max Heyman and Mike Alderete was announced for the next Legacy fight card. This fight is something that should have taken place five years ago. Both have split in the two fights they fought previous. Alderete won the first fight in 2010 with a split decision, with Heyman winning the rematch in six months later halting Alderete.

Hayman hasn’t fought in almost four years and Alderete in five years, so why now is a mystery? Outside that I look forward to the house fighters taking a step up in competition in the next card.