FONSECA COACH ROSENDO ALVAREZ: ‘I’M CONSIDERED THE SECOND BEST BOXER IN THE HISTORY OF NICARAGUA, BEHIND ONLY ALEXIS ARGUELLO!’

FONSECA COACH ROSENDO ALVAREZ: ‘I’M CONSIDERED THE SECOND BEST BOXER IN THE HISTORY OF NICARAGUA, BEHIND ONLY ALEXIS ARGUELLO!’

Fight fans attending this weekend’s salivating super-featherweight shootout between Crayford’s classy Alex Dilmaghani and Nicaragua’s hard-hitting Francisco Fonseca at the Bolton White’s Hotel will be in the presence of greatness.

Heading the lethal Latino’s corner will be ex-two weight WBA World Champion Rosendo Alvarez, one of the toughest most tenacious atoms to ever lace up.

The one they called ‘El Bufalo’ lost just four times (twice by disqualification’!) in a decorated 43 fight paid career between 1992 and 2012, that saw him contest 13 world title contests (just two losses), conquer nine world champions, register 24 knockouts and reign on the WBA’s minimum and light-flyweight thrones.

However, his greatest claim to fame came in March 1998 when he put the only stain on the great Ricardo Lopez undefeated 52 fight pro innings. In a WBA/WBC unification fight in Mexico City, Alvarez, himself undefeated in 24 at the time, dumped home favourite ‘El Finito’ heavily in round two but was restricted to an eight round technical draw after an ‘accidental head clash’.

In the inevitable rematch at the Las Vegas Hilton eight months after, Alvarez copped the rough end of a 12 round split decision.

‘I am considered the second-best boxer in the history of Nicaragua, behind only Alexis Arguello,’ beamed Rosendo, now 49, whose huge personality overshadows his diminutive 5ft 5in frame.

‘Firstly, they called me ‘El Matador’, but after breaking with my first manager, and while training in Panama, another boxer recommended to switch to ‘El Bufalo’, just before the first fight against Lopez.’

‘The first fight with Lopez in Mexico was a great experience because 60,000 people were there supporting Lopez but I never felt the pressure.

‘Three or four years before we fought, I’d watched Lopez fight on TV and I thought it was going to be impossible to beat him. I knew he was a memorable champion, very disciplined and a very accurate puncher.

‘But my preparation had been excellent and I was very confident. The biggest quality was that I was very strong, a hard puncher. I was never afraid and I adopted many skills while training in Panama. In the first Lopez match, I was robbed.

‘For our rematch, I was pressed by Don King (Lopez’ promoter) to take the fight with only one month to get ready. In that time, I had to lose 32 lbs. I couldn’t make the weight, I didn’t feel well. (Alvarez flunked the weight by almost four pounds). Nevertheless, I still think the second fight should have been drawn.’
Though the globetrotting ‘El Bufalo’ fought 17 times outside his Nicaraguan homeland (losing just three), sadly British fight followers never got to savour his savagery.

‘I’ve always liked and respected British boxing and British boxers. My favourites are Lennox Lewis, Ricky Hatton and Naseem Hamed,’ states Senor Alvarez who is delighted to make his British bow by piloting two-time IBF title challenger Fonseca on Friday.

‘Dilmaghani is a good southpaw boxer so Fonseca needs to put pressure on the fight. Francisco is very experienced and has trained very hard for this. He has good skills and discipline. Boxing is priority Number One in his life.

‘I won’t necessarily predict a stoppage but Fonseca will win the fight. Winning the WBA International title will lead to a new World Title shot.’