Pacquiao vs. Marquez Results: Mike Alvarado Not Elite Despite Dramatic Win

Mike Alvarado showed elite-level heart in his dramatic, come-from-behind TKO of Breidis Prescott on Saturday night in Las Vegas. At one point, it appeared Alvarado would be stopped, but he was able to make proper adjustments.

Both fighters’ faces were a bloody mess at the fight's conclusion. Prescott was literally out on his feet in the final round. Referee Jay Nady stepped and saved Prescott from further damage when he stopped the fight after Prescott had taken three uppercuts, without a response.

He was knocked down earlier in the round, that was the first time he had been dropped, let alone stopped as he would be later. Even with this great win, Alvarado’s hand speed, or lack thereof, will get completely outclassed against the elite fighters at 140 or 147 pounds.

Alvarado’s heart far outweighs his natural talent. The punishment he took early from Prescott will get him destroyed by Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and even Amir Khan, who coincidentally, was KO’d by Prescott in Khan’s only loss. That was a different Khan, the Khan of the present, would dismantle Alvarado as would most of the talent that likely awaits him.

That said, the win on Saturday night was still impressive. Stopping a fighter with a great chin like Prescott is noteworthy. There isn’t much Alvarado can do to improve upon the things that make him inferior to the top fighters in his weight region.

It will be interesting to see who is next up for him. A fight with Khan makes sense on paper, but not logically.