By Ian S Palmer
WBA World Super Featherweight Champion Rene Alvarado of Nicaragua will be defending the title for the first time this Saturday, Jan. 2nd against Roger Gutierrez of Venezuela. This is a rematch of their 2017 bout in which Alvarado won by seventh-round stoppage. The 12-rounder from Dallas Texas can be seen live in most nations on DAZN Alvarado won the title in November, 2019 when he stopped Andrew Cancio at the end of seven rounds due to a cut in a rematch. Gutierrez last fought in December, 2019 when he beat Andres Tapia via a 10-round unanimous decision.
The 31-year-old Alvarado climbs through the ring ropes with a record of 32-8 with 21 Ko’s. He’s fought 234 rounds since turning pro in 2008 and has average power with a knockout ratio of 52.5 per cent. He’s 5-feet-7-inches tall with a 72-inch reach and has now won eight fights in a row with five of them coming by stoppage after losing six of his previous nine contests.
Alvarado’s been stopped just once in his eight career defeats and that was at the hands of Cancio in the eighth round of their first meeting back in 2015. Alvarado’s best wins have been against Cancio, Jayson Velez, Denis Shafikov and Juan Pablo Sanchez. He’s also lost decisions to Yuriorkis Gamboa, Orlando Rizo, Jezreel Corrales, Rocky Juarez, Eric Hunter, Joseph Diaz, and Manuel Avila.
Before winning the title, Alvarado was basically considered a solid journeyman who had taken on some good opponents and had been competitive against them. He didn’t have much luck in the past when stepping up in class other than against Shafikov. Since turning pro he’s also won the WBC Silver Featherweight and WBC International Silver Super Featherweight Crowns.
As for Gutierrez, he’s just 25 years old and enters the bout with a mark of 24-3-1 with 20 big Ko’s. He’s fought 95 rounds since making his pro debut in 2013 and appears to have quite a bit of power with a current knockout ratio of 71.4 per cent. Gutierrez stands just over 5-feet-9-inches tall with a wingspan of 69.5 inches. He’s 2.5-inches taller than Alvarado but gives up 2.5 inches in reach.
Gutierrez’s first defeat came by KO at the hands of Alvarado in 2017 and he dropped an eight-round unanimous decision to Hector Tanajara in June, 2018 and was stopped after four rounds by Oscar Duarte in his next outing three months later. His lone draw was a four-round affair with Alfredo Mirabal in October, 2014. Gutierrez’s biggest wins have been against Leonardo Padilla and Eduardo Hernandez.
Prediction…
Gutierrez has power but just 11 of his previous opponents have had winning records and he was stopped by Alvarado in the seventh round in 2017. Gutierrez generally struggles when he steps up in class and that’s likely to happen again this Saturday. He has a puncher’s chance though but I’m expecting Alvarado to retain his title.
