Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KOs) scored a clear twelve round unanimous decision over Mike Alvarado (34-3, 23 KOs) in front of 12,090 boxing fans on Saturday night as boxing made its triumphant return to the Fabulous Forum in Inglewood, California. It was the first fight at the refurbished Forum, which had not hosted a boxing card since 2001.The judges had it 119-109, 117-109, 117-109 for Marquez.
Marquez dominated the early rounds. In the eighth round, Marquez sent Alvarado to the canvas with a beautiful right hand. Alvarado beat the count. Alvarado did come back with a knockdown of his own in the ninth round, but Marquez rallied as he always does when he’s floored, and came back to dominate the rest of the fight.
“I said it was going to be a tough fight and I said it was going to be a difficult fight,” Marquez said. “I wanted to give the public here a gift. A gift that dignifies the history of this event and the history of the Forum.
“I wanted to make this fight a gift to the fans.”
Alvarado was gracious in defeat, telling Kellerman, “He fought a good fight. It was a great experience.” Alvarado said he’ll be back, and that he’ll be ready for the rest of his career going forward.