LOS ANGELES, CA — The Forum’s return to hosting boxing events got off to solid start courtesy of late night’s Top Rank/HBO main event, which saw Marquez outbox Alvarado over the first six rounds before dominating a battle of attrition over the last half to win a unanimous decision (117-109 twice, 119-108). As good as the fight was, the last six rounds left you with the “what if” feeling, as in what the fight could have been if Alvarado had started the opening round doing what gave him fleeting moments of success (including a knockdown) over the last 18 minutes.
A SLUGGER OUTBOXING A MASTER TECHNICIAN???: Getting on your toes to outbox Brandon Rios is one thing. Trying that against Juan Manuel Marquez? You better be an elite boxer in your own right. For all his toughness, Alvarado is not that type of boxer, and he quickly found himself being picked apart by Marquez’s offense. The 40-year-old future Hall of Famer landed 1-2s and lead hooks to the body at will. Alvarado did have success with his jab and occasional right hands when he pressed his attacks, but the Denver native seemed wary of Marquez’s countering abilities, and those fleeting seconds of indecision let Marquez get off first more often than not.
THE “WAKE-UP” KNOCKDOWN: Despite Alvarado’s corner giving him sound advice all night about pressing Marquez and making him feel his age, it would take a right hand that literally knocked him out the ring to bring Mile High Mike to his senses.
The shot came in the eighth and thankfully for Alvarado towards the end of the round. He came out angry and determined for the ninth, and surprised Marquez with a short right hook for a balance knockdown. Marquez wasn’t hurt and kept Alvarado at bay with counters the rest of the round. The 10th was no better for Alvarado, who looked burnt out and allowed Marquez to fight at an measured pace. Although Alvarado would land another right in the 11th that nearly earned him a second flash knockdown, Marquez continued to land the harder and more consistent shots to leave no doubts of his victory.
A NON-COMMITTAL ANSWER TO A 5TH PACQUIAO FIGHT: When pressed in the post-fight interview about a fifth Pacquaio fight, Marquez gave a convoluted answer about the knockout in the fourth encounter being justice and the Alvarado win being a “gift” to his Mexican fans. When Max Kellerman continued to not let him off the hook, Marquez finally admitted he didn’t know if he’d take the bout.
Unfortunately for Marquez, the current (Top Rank) landscape at 140-147 pounds probably dictates that he does take the Pacquiao bout. Another option would be Ruslan Provodnikov, who Marquez had already turned down in favor of Alvarado. Pacquiao would give him another massive payday, and he would come in with the confidence of what he did to Manny in 2012.
The Provodnikov fight would be an amazing style contrast, but at 40 years old I don’t believe Marquez fancies such as physically taxing fight. But if it happens, Top Rank will likely have notched the 2014 Fight of the Year.
And let’s not forget about the below fighter, who’s also no stranger to Fights of the Year.
I love what I saw 2night and would like the opportunity 2 fight Marquez.
— Bam Bam Brandon Rios (@Brandon_Rios1) May 18, 2014
POSTOL KOs AYDIN: On the undercard, Viktor Postol became the mandatory for Danny Garcia’s 140-pound crown by beating down Selchuk Aydin. Not considered a puncher, Postol nonetheless started landing solid leather on Aydin as early as the second, following a big Aydin left hook in the first that wobbled him. It was a slow, thorough beating that had Aydin on fumes in the ninth and tenth before a flush uppercut ended Aydin’s misery (and foreseeable future as an American TV contender). With his size and boxing acumen, Postol is going to be a handful for everyone in the divison.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 
Honestly, last night was more like sparring fpr jmm. He really looked bored in their & did what he wanted all night. I thought he fought down to his comp a bit. I also thought that if MA had opened up sooner be would’ve been knocked out. Had he really forced jmm to become aggresive he would’ve gotten battered that much more. That was a mild version of marquez. Usually jmm is so intense during fights I can literally see the intensity flaming off of him. I didn’t see that last night. I saw a relaxed & relatively purposeful fighter fighting like it was a tune-up rather than a serious competition. Good fight tho. Both he & pacquiao are diminished slightly. I’d give a slight edge to jmm bc I think he’d make pac warry of his right hand & force manny to think rather than attack. Which plays into jmm hands. But pac would be thoroughly motivated by the revenge factor. So… Side note: I personally would not grant pac.the 5th fight bc of the outside chance of having the judging go against him again…..the ko was swee vindication for all the controversies in my mind. Then again…for all their tactical & technical brilliance…macho & jmm are terrible matchmakers….just terrible choosers of opponents at times.