Alvarez v Rhodes(18/06/2011) WBC Light-Middleweight Title
Round 1 - Cagey first couple of minutes, Rhodes lands a decent left hook to the head and a couple of scoring body jabs but Alvarez takes the round showing he can turn up the heat as and when he sees fit with his flurries , pinning Rhodes against the ropes at times
Round 2 – Same again, a little less from Rhodes and a good right hook to the body from Alvarez the highlights, showing his class again in control.
Round 3 – Alvarez shows good head movement slipping jabs, quick strong hands throwing, punches-in-bunches and able to counter at ease, real mature performance so far. He was able to sting Rhodes with a counter jab. Rhodes not quite out of his depth as of yet but Alvarez firmly in control.
Round 4 – Alvarez showing good defence, Rhodes just trying to find an opening and Alvarez is showing him some respect. The man from Sheffield tries to get off a combo of his own but the Mexican is equal to it gets his own off and puts Rhodes down with a strong straight right, not tpp hurt gets back up immediately and Alvarez jumps straight back on him.
Round 5 - Rhodes knock down seems to have woke him up a bit he starts little to throw with a bit more intent. Again, the champions defence is more than capable for what the challenger has to offer. Rhodes switching stance to trying find an answer and has a little more success. More strong fast combos from ‘El Canelo’ . The bell rings and Alvarez stays where he is stilling bobbing and weaving, looks like he could on another 3 minutes.
Round 6 – Alvarez knows he is bossing this fight and is showing true professionalism in the manner he is doing so. Rhodes throws a good combo but Alvarez comes back with a anything you- can-do-I-can-do better. Rhodes goes into southpaw and shows more reason for encouragement. Alvarez still in control with his head movement and strong counters but Rhodes maybe finding a lifeline boxing from southpaw and cathces Alvarez with a nice left straight late on. A 10-10 round?
Round 7 – Rhodes starts in orthodox and Alvarez once more shows how comfortable he is with continually throwing strong combinations in the opening minute, cutting Rhodes underneath his right eye, Rhodes again hits the canvas but it’s deemed a no knockdown. Alvarez picks up where he left off. Rhodes tries to make something happen with lunging left hooks but it’s all too forced from Rhodes and all so natural from the Mexican. Rhodes backs Alvarez up with a decent combo again, but that’s about all he’s had to offer this round.
Round 8 – A bit of déjà vu as this round starts the exact same as the rest, the crowd seem distracted with a disturbance in the audience. The home man still looking classy, showing his ability to throw any punch with each hand with the real speed a huge power. Uppercuts and body shots look like they are starting to take their toll on Rhodes.
Round 9 – Rhodes looking to press now pumping that jab off following up with a right hook, he knows he needs a K.O and starting to look for it, again the crowd distracted with trouble a little closer to them. Alvarez showing his danger with combos and sharp shots. Alvarez comfortable throughout but Rhodes did the most work this round.
Round 10 – Rhodes cut is a nasty one but a few centimetres below the eye shouldn’t stop the fight. Alvarez certainly has the power for a K.O finish but isn’t going all out to find it, when he hits he hits with power but isn’t look to put himself under any risk nor does he have to, still throwing the most punches Rhodes doesn’t look like he has any other ideas. Another dominate round from Alvarez.
Round 11 – Alvarez straight back out blitzing Rhodes with a green blur. More of the same. Rhodes is going to be sore in the morning but still has no quit in him trying to catch Alvarez with one big shot, but the home boy still looking the most likely to score the K.O win, firmly in control.
Round 12 – The two warriors touch gloves and have a little cuddle showing their respect. Alvarez still got plenty in the tank and looking to increase his K.O percentage throwing everything he has at Rhodes, every shot he throws is a bomb! Hurting Rhodes with punches from all angles, with both hands. The punches don’t stop coming and all Rhodes can do is try he is best to curl up, the ref steps and the Rhodes corner thrown in the towel in unison. Rhodes has had enough, brave performance but Alvarez was simply too good for him.
I had it scored 109-101 to Alvarez, but the Mexican hotshot scored the stoppage he would of been wanting. Another solid win, showing his quality throughout and for the WBC Light-Middleweight World Champion Saul ‘El Canelo’ Alvarez(now 37(27)-0-1) the future looks bright.
