Mike Alvarado: Conquering the Light Welterweight Division – Boxing News

 Exclusive Interview by Marc Anthony

“I am ready to take it to the next level. I am ready for a title shot. I am ready to rule my division.” — Mike Alvarado

Mike Alvarado, 32-0, 23 KO’s, is coming in very confident for his upcoming match against a very skilled opponent in Mauricio Herrera, 18-1, 7 KO’s. Mike is coming off a spectacular 10 round KO win over Breidis Prescott last November 11th in Vegas which has added to his confidence. He has shown that he can carry his power in the late rounds, making him a dangerous fighter to his opponents and an entertaining one to the fight fans.

Mike Alvarado vs. Mauricio Herrera will be the Co-Main event alongside the Brandon Rios fight.

MA: You are no stranger to the Vegas fight scene. This will be Mauricio’s second time. Do you see it as an advantage?

It could be. Depending on how he feels with that type of atmosphere, knowing that he has never fought on card like that with so many people. He is pretty known fighting on ESPN and Showtime, so I don’t think he will have a problem with it. I am pretty sure he is going in there confident.

MA: You are the co-main event. Is it important to be entertaining or does that come naturally?

It’s just the way I am. It’s the type of fighter that I am. I come out there and perform. I am a performer…an entertainer… I am an exciting fighter to watch. It’s just my style.

MA: Are there benefits to training at a high altitude?

I am in LA right now, which is different training, but I always go back to Denver. It gives me that advantage when I do fly to Vegas with that low elevation, so yeah.

MA: Have you been to LA before to train?

Yeah, this is actually my third or fourth camp out here. It’s good. I like it out here. I have a lot of good trainers and sparring partners. It has always been good training out here.

MA: Do you watch fights before and after yours?

Oh yeah definitely. I am a fight fan as well, not just a fighter. Usually, after my fight, depending how my fight goes, I always like to watch the final fights after.

MA: If they were ever to meet up, how do you see Gamboa vs. Rios fight going down?

Man, it will be a very good fight and very interesting. Gamboa would be coming up from a lower weight. He is a boxer he is quick on his feet. And I know he isn’t going sit there and be there for Rios. Rios is going have to chase him down, going have to break him down and slow him down, but I think he would be able to do it. Rios is the bigger puncher and fighter. But then again, I don’t think his skills are as polished as they need to be. I think Gamboa might win a unanimous decision.

MA: Did you grow up doing other sports?

Oh yeah, I did pretty much every sport. I am multi-athletic: Football…basketball… wrestling. Wrestling was my main sport. I was like the Oscar De La Hoya/Floyd Mayweather of wrestling.

MA: How far did you take your wrestling career?

I started wrestling when I was 4 years old until I was 18 years old. I almost made it to the Olympics. I was a seven time national freestyle wrestling champion, a six time national collegiate wrestling champion, a five time national Greco-Roman champion and I took state in High School…I was a three time champion. I graduated with 97-0, and still held the record at being undefeated in high school. I did pretty well; I just never pursued my academics. It’s very important to stay in school. I pretty much just worked and started boxing. Boxing has been my calling.

MA: Do you feel that wrestling background has helped you in boxing?

Yeah it really gave me a lot of good training aspects. As far as my strength and conditioning goes, I believe that it’s what brought my power to where it is. I know I have the natural strength in me, but that along with training year round and nonstop have added to the power that I have. Now it’s just skill building and working on my technique in all aspects of the game. So, yes it had a huge impact on my boxing.

MA: I saw your last fight and that amazing KO win…what a great fight!

Yeah that was a great fight. It was very entertaining. It was a good fight. I know I couldn’t leave it to the judges to give me that fight. I went out there; I get stronger as the fight goes later in the fight. That’s just the way I train. This fight, I plan on coming all out and ready to step it up right to him and set the pace of the fight. This fight I am going to amaze a lot of people. I am ready to take it to the next level. I am ready for a title shot. I am ready to rule my division.

Mike Alvarado
Division: Light Welterweight
Nickname: Mile High
Professional Record: 32-0-0, 23 KO’s

2011-11-12 Breidis Prescott 24-3-0 Las Vegas, US W TKO 10
IBF Latino Light Welterweight Title
2011-07-30 Gabriel Martinez 27-2-1 Denver, US W UD 10
vacant IBF Latino Light Welterweight Title
2011-05-07 Ray Narh 25-1-0 Las Vegas, US W RTD 3
vacant WBC Continental Americas Light Welterweight Title
2011-02-19 Dean Harrison 16-4-0 Las Vegas, US W RTD 4

2010-11-20 Joshua Burns 3-9-5 Thackerville, US W TKO 3
2010-04-03 Lenin Arroyo 20-11-1 Corpus Christi, US W TKO 2

2009-05-02 Juaquin Gallardo 18-7-1 Las Vegas, US W UD 8
2009-03-07 Emmanuel Clottey 24-8-0 Commerce City, US W KO 10

2008-12-19 Miguel Angel Huerta 27-9-1 Denver, US W TKO 4
2008-10-03 Manuel Garnica 25-9-0 Denver, US W TKO 4
2008-07-26 Cesar Bazan 48-10-1 Las Vegas, US W KO 4
2008-05-09 Michel Rosales 20-1-0 Albuquerque, US W TKO 7
2008-02-15 Jesus Rodriguez 17-2-0 Cicero, US W UD 10

2007-12-01 Michael Clark 36-4-0 Albuquerque, US W TKO 1
2007-08-24 Jorge Alberto Padilla 7-3-3 Chicago, US W TKO 8
2007-06-08 Francisco Campos 21-9-1 Gary, US W KO 2
2007-02-16 Carlos Molina 8-3-1 Cicero, US W MD 8

2006-08-18 Edvan Dos Santos Barros 8-2-1 Pasadena, US W UD 8
2006-06-02 Maximino Cuevas 8-3-1 Tucson, US W RTD 5
2006-03-31 Sergio Joel De La Torre 10-7-2 Laughlin, US W UD 8

2005-10-07 Jose Angel Roman 6-8-3 Las Vegas, US W UD 6
2005-09-17 Arthur Brambila 8-3-0 Phoenix, US W UD 6
2005-08-26 Chad Lawshe 8-5-0 Houston, US W TKO 3
2005-05-06 Solomon Tellez 3-4-1 Fountain Hills, US W TKO 3
2005-03-19 Hilario Lopez 7-2-0 Las Vegas, US W UD 6
2005-02-18 Felipe Campana 2-0-0 Fountain Hills, US W TKO 2

2004-12-17 Fernando Chacon 2-1-1 Hidalgo, US W TKO 3
2004-10-16 Andrew Keon 0-0-0 Thornton, US W KO 1
2004-09-18 Candelario Garcia 0-0-0 Denver, US W TKO 1
2004-07-03 Robert Howard 7-21-0 Castle Rock, US W KO 1
2004-04-17 Rudy Cruz 3-13-3 Temecula, US W TKO 1
2004-02-28 Istafa Jihad 0-0-0 Thornton, US W KO 1