By Albert Alvarez
I have tried and tried to break this fight down a few different ways. In my head, this fight can come down to the wire. But reality then quickly enters my gut, and it is then that I begin to see the entire brawl play out before the start of the first round. Truth is, this rematch has been playing out in my head ever since the very second that this rematch was first announced. One would think that the constant replay in my mind should have me feeling jaded about this, but it’s the anticipation of it all that continues to keep me beside myself within the grasp of time.
The film study has already been completed, countless hours have deposited inside my brain. And if Mike Alvarado’s team is smart, then they need to see the bull for what it truly is. The bull is as scary as your mind allows it to be. I will not romance it much longer, point blank, if I am Alvarado, I would keep my eyes glued to Rios’ right side. Remove your fighter instinct and replace it with a killer instinct instead. That is exactly where your mind must go, because Brandon Rios is itching to take you into the mouth of madness.
For Brandon, he must continue to force his will upon his opponent by forcing him to fight. He must know that Mike will look to move his head side to side and will look for opportunities to steal very valuable breaths here and there. Rios must not allow for his opponent to get comfortable. He must press forward and when the wheels begin to turn, it is then that Rios must cut the ring off and chop it in half.
Alright, so here it is. I am picking Rios (31-0-1) to land a vicious left uppercut followed by a brutal right hand to end the war somewhere between rounds 7-9. Alvarado (33-1) will have no answer for Bam Bam’s lethal right hands. If Alvarado saw what I saw, then making that one simple adjustment can turn things in his favor. But I feel that his fighter instinct will outweigh the homework that was completed. I will be at press row for this one, and I can not wait. See you at the fights.
