When two warriors step foot on the battle field with a kill or be killed attitude, then one will be killed, and when two boxers step foot in the ring with a knockout or be knocked out attitude then one will be knocked out. So when Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado square up for a second time, someone will be digesting the bitter cold taste of a knockout defeat. Who that man shall be is up for debate. A debate that will keep going right up until one man is left unable to continue.Rios (31-0-1 23KOs) and Alvarado (33-1 23KOs) are not in the boxing 'game' purely for the money and fame, they are a breed of boxers that crave the buzz of trading blows without relenting. They entertain themselves as well as the fans and receive the accolades they deserve after the wars are over.
This is not to say I'm a boxing enthusiast who only enjoys watching the sport when the boxers take to centre ring and trade haymakers. As a fan of the art of boxing, I find just as much enjoyment watching Andre Ward as I do Carl Froch. But as any fan of the sweet science, a toe-to-toe war always sets the blood boiling and the nerves of excitement flowing.
Rios and Alvarado have yet to step foot into the ring under the bright lights since they last clashed in what would have been the fight of the year, before Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez wowed us all. Rios came out victorious handing Alvarado his first defeat, but Rios knows as well as anyone that Denver born Alvarado gave him his toughest contest of his 32 fight career. If you are yet to see that exhilarating bout then I speak for everyone that tuned in last October when I tell you to get onto Youtube and watch it before Saturday night.
Rios was looking likely to step up to Welterweight to face Top Rank stablemate Manny Pacquiao, before the Filipino's shock knockout defeat to Marquez, but a rematch with Alvarado is not a bad consolation prize for a fighter that craves a toe-to-toe war. Neither fighter is predicted to reach the pinnacle of the pound-for-pound list but they can sure engrave their names into every hardcore boxing fans brain with another thriller come Saturday. I went with Alvarado last time around, and I don't think I'll be making the same prediction again. Rios admitted to being shaken a few times in their first fight, but backed up his claim that he's a true warrior. Brandon can do the same again Saturday, coming through some rather rough patches before catching up to Alvarado. 'Mile High' Mike might be up on the scorecards before Rios chops him down in 10 rounds to win what is guaranteed to be a modern classic. Rios should leave with the win but both boxers will leave the ring with even more respect and admiration from the boxing family. If that's even possible.
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