By Miguel Maravilla
6’3 Mexican lightweight prospect Oscar Alvarez Jr. of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico will be in action Wednesday night when he takes on Jonhatan Cordoso from Sao Paulo, Brazil at the Whitesands Event Center in Plant City Florida, live on ProBox TV.
“I am ready physically and mentally, I’m just anxious to get in the ring,” Alvarez Jr. said. “I assure you it will be a great fight. I will represent Mexico and I’m looking for the KO. We are two fighters that go all out, the winners will be the fans.”
The 19-year-old, Alvarez Jr. (9-0, 7 KO’s), will be fighting for the second time in the U.S. as earlier this year he made his U.S debut with seventh round technical decision over Nicolas Polanco. Alvarez won a majority decision in his last fight over Diego Juarez. Now he gets set to face the Brazilian slugger Cordoso.
Cordoso (15-1, 14 KOs), won a majority decision over Jose Arellano in his last fight in rebounding from his first and only defeat to Juan Huertas.
“We fought on the same card early this year. I have seen him fight before,” Alvarez Jr. stated. “He is a tough brawler, goes straight forward. He packs a punch because he has 14 knockouts in 15 of his wins. I know he will be a very tough fighter,” Alvarez Jr. on Cordoso.
For this fight Alvarez began his preparation in Mexico as he then relocated camp to Phoenix, Arizona working with his father and team.
“I took the fight two months ago. I have prepared myself well. We worked good on my conditioning as well as the technique, working on my distance. My sparring was superb I had a lot of good work in,” Alvarez said about his camp.
Standing 6’3″ tall, Alvarez began boxing at a very young age and had over 600 amateur fights, compiling a 665-12 record. Among his accomplishments include back-to-back Championship Gold Medals in 2019 and 2020, and a Bronze in the Pan Am Games.
“I have been boxing since I was seven. Always competing on the weekends in tournaments, local, regional, and my amateur career has given me confidence to become a professional,” Alvarez said. “Since I was kid my father would tell me that I was going to box and be a world champion one day. I have liked it since, I have had a passion for the sport till this day.”
Growing and idolizing the great Julio Cesar Chavez and Juan Manuel Marquez, Alvarez hopes to one day accomplish high accolades and become world champion. A well- rounded boxer puncher, Alvarez looks to showcase his talent and gradually make his way up.
“I have always loved the Mexican style. I get scolded because I like to fight inside and like to bang. One of my favorite fighters and styles was Juan Manuel Marquez’s, Julio Cesar Chavez. Today’s fighters I admire are Shakur Stevenson and Lomachenko,” Alvarez Jr. stated.
Hailing from the same town that produced former world champion Orlando Salido and the birthplace of El Gran Campeon Mexicano, Julio Cesar Chavez. Alvarez hopes to earn his mark and carry on the town’s boxing tradition. The Mexican state of Sonora has produced some of the toughest fighters and world champions which also include Yori Boy Campas, Jose Luis Castillo, current fighters Oscar Valdez and world champion Juan Franciso “Gallo” Estrada.
“It’s a matter of me representing the Mexican community, my state, my country. I feel proud, representing Mexico. My motivation is to carry on Mexican boxing tradition and make my mark,” Alvarez declared.
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That’s a tall lightweight!!
Hopefully he learns to fight smart.
He didnt learn. He was exposed.
677 amateur fights, and he’s only 19 years old? Just doing the math, if he fought once a week, it would take him nearly 13 years to have 677 fights. Not to mention, he started his pro career in Sept. 2021, and is 9 fights in. At what age did this guy start his amateur career exactly?
I was wondering the same. He has nearly 700 fights, which is off the charts. More likely a typo than true
We were having the same conversation the first time they mentioned his name on this site USF. It is VERY difficult to believe and, after watching him fight now two three times, he doesn’t look like he has much experience. He’s that tall but cannot maintain it AT ALL. He fights like Fundora and there is very little polish or refinement in his game imo.
I haven’t seen him fight yet, but that amateur record is hard to believe. It looks like he fought as an amateur up until the age of 17, which means he had to have averaged one fight a week since around the age of 4. Hard to believe that.
He fights on ProBox, this fight will be on their YouTube channel tomorrow night. Paulie Malignaggi and Chris Algieri call the fights and they routinely (especially Paulie) mention how they do not believe his record.
Yes, I don’t believe it either. BTW, I used the one fight a week scenario just to put things in perspective. No idea how often he actually fought…could have been 3-4 times a week, but I doubt it amounted to 677.
WOW. That’s like Thailand Muay Thai level experience. Those fighters have hundreds of fights before they reach 16.
7 years old. Says it right in the article.
Damn, you’re right. Missed that somehow…
I wonder how long can this young man make 135, and I wonder how much he weighs at the sound of Round 1?
Are they trying to turn this fighter into another weight bully because it is a trend among certain camps (at various weight classes)?
Oh man, if Oscar Alvarez were a solid well stablished top ten fighter (like Isaac Cruz), a fight vs Gervonta could have been fun to watch with Gervonta who is listed 5′ 51/2” (but far shorter than that for some that know him well) and the 6’3″ Alvarez.
The first thing I think of is Fundora. Hopefully, he learns to use his size to his advantage. At that height, he can potentially be a 9 division champion.
Boy got a reality check.
He’s tough, but he will not go anywhere. Waaaaaay too many mistakes.
The “Hitman” Hearns of lightweight… We’ll see.