Boxing Odds: The Forum in Inglewood, California is the site for Saturday’s fight between Mike Alvarado and Juan Manuel Marquez. Both of these two fighters are coming off a loss but the winner of this bout could be in line for a big payday in a fight against Manny Pacquaio. Marquez has a record of 55-7-1 in his career while Alvarado is 34-2. The oddsmakers have listed Marquez as better than a 2-1 favorite to win this fight on Saturday night.
Let’s look at the bout and boxing picks.
Slugfest Expected
Juan Manuel Marquez said that he expects a slugfest when he takes on Mike Alvarado on Saturday. Alvarado is known as a brawler but his style could play right into the hands of Marquez who is considered one of the best counter punchers in all of boxing. Alvarado has said he is going to try to stay in control. “I can’t be giving in when he’s going to war and wanting to trade punches. I can’t be giving in to that.” Alvarado said, “I have to fight my fight and at my pace and my style of fighting. I just have to fight the way that I know how to fight and to make the right adjustments.”
Alvarado has lost two of his last three bouts. He was beaten by Brandon Rios in 2012 and then lost to Ruslan Provodnikov last October. Marquez is coming off a split decision loss to Timothy Bradley. Marquez would like to get another shot at Manny Pacquiao but how much appeal there would be for a sixth fight between the two is questionable. Marquez is 1-2-1 against Pacquiao. The winner of Saturday’s fight between Marquez and Alvardo should get a title shot though against Pacquiao.
Boxing Picks
This is really not a good matchup for Alvarado as he likes to win by trading shots with his opponents. That strategy plays right into the hands of Marquez who can simply counter punch and win. The price is high but I can’t see Marquez losing this one unless he gets really careless. I will take Marquez to win this bout on Saturday night.