BoxRec

I have been preaching this for some time, but in my opinion we have one of the greatest flyweights of all time still boxing who recieves zero recognition from any of these boxing board.

Whilst Resondo Alvarez lost his light flyweight world title yesterday through not being able to make the weight, he was still victorious over Bebis Mendoza in their fourth match.

Alvarez, who is in the twilight of his long career at 34, record is now 33-2-2 (21 KO's). His two defeats have come via a disqualification vs Mendoza and a split decision loss to Lopez. Ricardo Lopez is generally regarded as one of the finest Flyweights of all time, however to score a draw and a split decision loss to him shows how good Alvarez is.

The Nicuraguan has been a world champion since 1995 and has beaten pretty much all of the top names in the devision at one point or another. At 34, he will not be around much longer - so I think its time we acknowledged this great fighter before he retires.

The lack of recognition comes from the fact we see so little of the smaller weights. The only time t.v over here shows these fights is if they happen to be on the undercard of one of the really big names. I for one would love to see more of the little guys, but it just isn't viable to buy tapes of every decent fighter in the lower weights. I don't have enough money to get the amount of fights that i want, and because of that fighters like Alvarez go largely unnoticed. I'm sure other guys are in the same boat, and if the more dedicated fans don't see much of the fighters at lower weights, then i dread to think how many times the casual fan has seen Alvarez, or even Lopez.

What i have seen, i've liked. But i've seen so few of his fights that i can't really call him a great, because i don't know enough to judge.

glittermonkey wrote:The lack of recognition comes from the fact we see so little of the smaller weights. The only time t.v over here shows these fights is if they happen to be on the undercard of one of the really big names. I for one would love to see more of the little guys, but it just isn't viable to buy tapes of every decent fighter in the lower weights. I don't have enough money to get the amount of fights that i want, and because of that fighters like Alvarez go largely unnoticed. I'm sure other guys are in the same boat, and if the more dedicated fans don't see much of the fighters at lower weights, then i dread to think how many times the casual fan has seen Alvarez, or even Lopez.

What i have seen, i've liked. But i've seen so few of his fights that i can't really call him a great, because i don't know enough to judge.

Good points, I just get a little p'd that he gets constantly overlooked when it comes to P4P lists etc. These lists are usually not conducted by the casual fan, but "hardcore" boxing experts. Maybe Alvarez doesn't quite warrant a place in the ten, but I've never seen him in any top twenty list - but then Calzaghe is in many experts top 15. Alvarez should easily be rated in a P4P sense above Calzaghe.

Lopez, in my opinion, also got overlooked a little bit, for me when it was Jones, Trinidad and Moseley in the top 3 (almost universally) I always had Lopez at four, even ahead of the likes of Hamed, Barrera, DLH, Tszyu etc and by the time he retired he moved up to 3 in my rankings (Jones, Barrera, Lopez). However, while most experts never placed Lopez as highly as me, he still made most peoples P4P top ten list. However, Alvarez is no where to be seen.

From what I have seen of Alvarez and his record, he is just a whisker away from being on the same level as Lopez. Yet doesn't get near the recognition.

Luckily for me I have seen both Lopez and Alvarez fight. Lopez was a different class- I was banging his drum to my boxing mates for years, I had him between 1 and 3 in my P4P for a long time. I felt vindicated (in a childish "I told you so" way") when, on his retirement he was flanked b y Barrera and Chavez who both said "this is Mexico's best ever boxer".

Alvarez is different: he sinks or rises to the level of his opponent - he can look like a legend or a journeyman.

The disgrace is the level of recognition these men get: on the Atlantic City mega-card last year, I was at the front of the queue when the doors opened. I got to the ring and Alvarez was already in round 4 of his scrap....

Loynsey, another one of my favourites down that weight is Melchor Cob Castro - obviously not as good as the other two but I do like his style and proffesionalism.

I saw Lopez (I think on some Tyson undercard) make him look like a journeyman and I admit I don't think Alvarez could have done that. However, there wasn't alot between them in their fights between each other (Lopez and Alvarez).

I've always labelled Alvarez as the Bernard Hopkins of his weight devision, great fighter in his own right but will always be in the shadow of one of the true all time greats. In Bernards case that was Roy Jones. Even when Roy Jones was still on top of his game (at another weight) people started debating (rightfully so, I might add) Bernard standing in the all time Middleweight rankings.

I think, whilst Alvarez will always be behind Lopez, he is still a great in his own right.

It was only a unification match......

Most boxing writers will readily admit to knowing fornicate all about fighters below bantamweight, most of them fight in obscurity on small bills in their home countries, and a lot of their fights probably aren't even available on tape. personally, i simply don't have the money to go buying tapes of guys I have never even heard of, especially with so many championship belts in existence.

Most of these guys could walk past me in flames and I wouldn't take any notice, they are virtually invisible. I try to keep a bead on it, but there's so many other fighters to write about.

James - understand your point completely. I have always had an affinity for the smaller men (did anyone else go to the straweight title fight that was bizarrely on in Peterboro a few years ago) and make a real effort to see them/get tapes but it is a minority end of the sport.

Stu - good analogy with Lopez/Alvarez and Jones/Hopkins. I would beg any real fight fan to shell out some cash for Lopez fights on DVD - his speed, footwork and best of all use of angles was something to behold.

Really pleaed Calderon (spelling?) is on the undercard of Morales v Barrera - he is probably the best of the sub 6 stone fellas and I am looking forward to seeing him live.

James - understand your point completely. I have always had an affinity for the smaller men (did anyone else go to the straweight title fight that was bizarrely on in Peterboro a few years ago) and make a real effort to see them/get tapes but it is a minority end of the sport.

Stu - good analogy with Lopez/Alvarez and Jones/Hopkins. I would beg any real fight fan to shell out some cash for Lopez fights on DVD - his speed, footwork and best of all use of angles was something to behold.

Really pleaed Calderon (spelling?) is on the undercard of Morales v Barrera - he is probably the best of the sub 6 stone fellas and I am looking forward to seeing him live.

I get most of the titlefights in Japan & Korea and some of their small fighters are really awsome to look at. There are alot of wars and the promotors are not afraid to put their fights in with worldclass fighters. I especially find Eagle Kyuwa a threat to the eye, his fight vs Aguirre was really good.

Is it just me or does this thread sound a bit homoerotic?

Freiheit - hopefully its just you...

Is the Larsen/Bredahl bill confirmed for Copenhagen? Tempted to fly over for that one

It was announced last week and the tickets will go on sell in a few days and they annouced that it will be PPV in scandinavia so it looks confirmed this time. There is a good chance that Michailenko will fight Alvarez in a rematch on the card also. With the potential matched that is being line up it could be a great card.

Loynesy wrote:Freiheit - hopefully its just you...

Is the Larsen/Bredahl bill confirmed for Copenhagen? Tempted to fly over for that one

Freiheit has tempted me as well...i am considering making a visit