Boxing is back at the Forum and the historic inaugural brawl will feature Juan Manuel Marquez vs. “Mile High” Mike Alvarado. The opening press conference for the Marquez vs. Alvarado on May 17, televised on HBO, took place today in Los Angeles, and you can check out the photos, quotes and other details here.
Márquez (55-7-1, 40 KOs), of México City, a longtime Forum stalwart who never lost a fight at the legendary boxing venue, and Alvarado (34-2, 23 KOs), of Denver, CO., will collide in a 12-round World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title elimination bout on Saturday, May 17.
Juan Manuel Marquez Quotes
“The opportunity to go back and fight at the Forum where I developed as a professional fighter was too great to pass up.
“The Forum is very special to me. I expect a tough fight against Mike Alvarado and one that the fans will truly enjoy.
Alvarado is a big tough fighter who gives it his all in ring.”
Mike Alvarado Quotes
“When Top Rank called and offered a fight with Márquez I started jumping around — I was so excited because I have the opportunity to get into the ring and retire a Mexican legend.
“I am great under pressure and I am going to fight like the ‘Old Mike’ and use my power and my will to beat Márquez. I made a mistake of looking past Ruslan Provodnikov. He jumped on me and got me in a bad situation. He had such an awkward style. The difference against Márquez will be my power.
I am going to train super hard for my biggest fight. I am very excited. I am anxious too, to fight the winner of Pacquiao and Bradley. Bradley interests me a lot. Pacquiao has made his mark in boxing. Bradley is undefeated.
This fight is my redemption to all of my fans. I know how important this fight is. What a fight with such a reward – to fight the winner of Pacquiao vs Bradley. This is an incredible opportunity. I will be fully prepared to fight Márquez on May 17.”
“Márquez vs. Alvarado should be a battle from bell to bell. Both really need this fight and that will make for an exciting encounter,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.
“On May 17, World Championship Boxing delivers a must-see, high-stakes, all-action event,” said Peter Nelson, director of programming, HBO Sports.
“In a welterweight showdown between two of boxing’s great warriors, Juan Manuel Márquez and Mike Alvarado will rekindle a Forum tradition: fights between men who defy physics, weighing so little while having hearts so big. It will be a familiar atmosphere for Márquez as he’ll return home, both to the Forum for the first time in 15 years and live on HBO for the first time in four. On May 17, we’ll see if Alvarado can upend Márquez’s homecoming to make it his own house-warming. Don’t miss it.”
Márquez, who is trained by Hall of Famer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristáin, is undefeated at the Forum, winning all 12 bouts he fought there, from 1995 through 1999, with nine of those victories coming by way of knockout. Márquez is one of only a rare few fighters from México to have won world titles in four different weight divisions.
Last October 12, in his first attempt at winning a record fifth world title in as many weight divisions, Márquez came up short, losing a split decision to defending WBO welterweight champion Bradley.
Alvarado (34-2, 23 KOs) of Denver, had won 10 of his last 14 bouts by stoppage en route to his rematch victory over Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios, on March 30, 2013, which not only avenged Alvarado’s loss to Rios in 2012’s Fight of the Year, but also made Alvarado a world champion. Alvarado’s world title reign ended in his first defense, last October 19, where he suffered a12th-round TKO to Ruslan Provodnikov in front of a sold-out crowd in his Denver homecoming.
The Marquez vs. Alvarado welterweight rumble will be televised live on HBO.
The winner will challenge the victor of the upcoming rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, Jr. Marquez and Alvarado boast a combined record of 89-9-1 (63 KOs) — a winning percentage of 90% and a victory by knockout ratio of 71%.
Promoted by Top Rank® in association with Zanfer Promotions, Márquez Boxing and Tecate, tickets to Márquez vs. Alvarado will go on sale Tuesday, April 1, priced at $35-$400.
