Juan Manuel Marquez decisively defeated Mike Alvarado in a unanimous decision at the Inglewood Forum , Los Angeles. The victory, which saw fall on each side, has the opened the road for a fifth fight against Manny Pacquiao for the welterweight title of the World Boxing Organization. In a fight which was seen as a qualifier for a fight against the current Filipino champion, Marquez ( 01/07/56, 40 KOs) dominated most of the rounds, landing the better punches and knocked Alvarado down in the eighth round.
Mike Alvarado ( 34-3 , 23 KO 's) managed to get his own punches in, with Marquez falling to the canvas in the ninth round. In the end the judges favored the Mexican with two judges scoring 117-109 and one of 119-108. Marquez was on the offensive at all times and, when Alvarado, who entered the ring with pants that had both a U.S. and Mexican flag, tried to counter, it seemed to just drive Marquez further. Up until the seventh round Marquez landed the best blows, but had no knockout potential.
It was not until the final seconds of the eighth that he achieved a combination of left and right hooks that knocked Alvarado down. The American got up and referee Pat Russell said the fight could continue - Alvarado was literally saved by the bell. Marquez came into the ninth at his most offensive, trying to find the end of the battle, but was caught with a straight right that sat him on the ring, causing a count from referee. The Mexican got up and then they both went in with great offensive intensity.
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