Rosendo Álvarez


Rosendo José Álvarez Hernández is a Nicaraguan former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2012. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the World Boxing Association mini-flyweight title from 1995 to 1998, the WBA light-flyweight title from 2001 to 2004, and the inaugural Ring magazine light-flyweight title from 2003 to 2004.

Professional career

Álvarez made his professional debut on May 23, 1988. He accumulated a record of 19-0, which included a TKO victory over future champion José Bonilla, before challenging for a world title.

WBA mini-flyweight title

On December 2, 1995, he traveled to Thailand and won the World Boxing Association mini-flyweight title by close split decision over undefeated Thai champion Chana Porpaoin, who was 9-0 in title fights. In 1996, he defended his title three times including a third round knockout over future champion Kermin Guardia, a decision win over former champion Eric Chavez, and an eighth round knockout over undefeated prospect Takashi Shiohama. He had one bout in 1997, an eleventh round knockout over undefeated future interim champion Songkram Porpaoin, for his fourth title defense.

Fights with López

In 1998, he fought to a draw with undefeated reigning WBC mini-flyweight champion and pound-for-pound ranked Ricardo Lopez, dropping Lopez for the first and only time in his career. The fight was stopped in the 8th round when Lopez suffered a cut from a clash of heads, resulting in a technical draw on the scorecards. A rematch was set for later in the year, however, the fight was in jeopardy of taking place as Alvarez failed to make weight by 3 1/4 pounds. He was stripped of the title and the two met at an over the 105-pound strawweight limit, with the WBA title being on the line for Lopez only. Alvarez lost the rematch by a 12-round split decision, suffering his first loss as a professional.

WBA light-flyweight title

Álvarez then moved up to the 108 lb division and won his following three fights, including a decision victory over future champion Tomás Rojas. On August 12, 2000, he lost by seventh round disqualification for repeated low blows to Beibis Mendoza for the vacant WBA light-flyweight title. He later avenged this loss by twelve round split decision to claim the title. In his following fight, he faced Pichit Siriwat, who had previously defended the same WBA title five times before being stripped of it in 2000 for failing to defend it against Alvarez. He defeated Siriwat by 12th-round TKO. In 2003, he defeated Mendoza for a second time by decision and gained recognition as Ring light flyweight champion. Later that year, he fought to a twelve-round draw against then-IBF champ José Víctor Burgos in a unification bout. In 2004, he was stripped of his WBA and Ring light-flyweight titles prior to a fourth meeting with Mendoza, due to his failure to make weight. He went on to win the fight by split decision.

WBC flyweight title loss and doping controversy

On May 8, 2006, he challenged Jorge Arce for the interim WBC flyweight title, but was defeated by 6th round tko. After the fight, Álvarez was suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission for the rest of 2006 and fined $2,000 because he failed a post-fight urinalysis. Álvarez tested positive for the banned diuretic Furosemide, also known as Lasix.

Retirement

Álvarez is a promoter and manager in his native Nicaragua and it is assumed that the Arce fight was his last effort as a combatant.

Comeback

In 2012, Álvarez returned to the ring at age 42, but lost by 5th round disqualification.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
43Loss37–4–2Jean SampsonDQ5, 1:4026 May 2012Polideportivo Espana, Managua, Nicaragua
42Loss37–3–2Jorge ArceKO6, 1:548 Apr 2006Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesFor WBC interim flyweight title
41Win37–2–2Eduardo PachecoTKO6, 2:544 Feb 2006Centro de Convenciones Figali, Panama City, Panama
40Win36–2–2Jorge RomeroTKO6, 0:1010 Dec 2005Gran Casino Rodeo, Tipitapa, Nicaragua
39Win35–2–2Julio GrimaldoUD1029 Oct 2005Casino Las Vegas, Managua, Nicaragua
38WinRegulo GamezKO7, 2:5526 Feb 2005Universidad de Managua, Managua, Nicaragua
37Win33–2–2Beibis MendozaSD122 Oct 2004Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States
36Draw32–2–2Víctor Burgos1213 Dec 2003Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United StatesRetained WBA and The Ring light-flyweight titles;
For IBF light-flyweight title
35Win32–2–1Beibis MendozaMD1231 Mar 2003Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock, Arkansas, United StatesRetained WBA light-flyweight title;
Won inaugural The Ring light-flyweight title
34Win31–2–1Pichit Chor SiriwatTKO12, 2:1019 Jan 2002Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, Florida, United StatesRetained WBA light-flyweight title
33Win30–2–1David TorresKO3, 2:0514 Dec 2001Polideportivo Espana, Managua, Nicaragua
32Win29–2–1Beibis MendozaSD123 Mar 2001Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesWon WBA light-flyweight title
31Win28–2–1Cipriano LandaTKO2 8 Dec 2000Hotel Intercontinental, Managua, Nicaragua
30Loss27–2–1Beibis Mendoza7, 1:0212 Aug 2000Paris Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesFor vacant WBA light-flyweight title
29Win27–1–1Tomás RojasUD1011 Mar 2000Gimnasio Polideportivo Espana, Managua, Nicaragua
28Win26–1–1Arturo VelazquezTKO2, 2:0918 Dec 1999Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, United States
27Win25–1–1Paulino VillalobosUD1027 Feb 1999Gimnasio La Salle, Managua, Nicaragua
26Loss24–1–1Ricardo LópezSD1213 Nov 1998Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesWBC and vacant WBA mini-flyweight titles at stake only for López as Álvarez missed weight
25Draw24–0–1Ricardo López7, 3:007 Mar 1997Plaza de Toros, Mexico City, MexicoRetained WBA mini-flyweight title;
For WBC mini-flyweight title
24Win24–0Songkram PorpaoinTKO11, 2:1411 Jan 1997Aranyaprathet, ThailandRetained WBA mini-flyweight title
23Win23–0Takashi ShiohamaKO8, 1:261 Oct 1996City Sogo Gym, Kitakyushu, JapanRetained WBA mini-flyweight title
22Win22–0Eric Chavez1215 Jun 1996City Gymnasium, Sendai, JapanRetained WBA mini-flyweight title
21Win21–0Kermin GuardiaKO3, 1:2330 Mar 1996Estadio Nacional, Managua, NicaraguaRetained WBA mini-flyweight title
20Win20–0Chana Porpaoin122 Dec 1995Provincial Gymnasium, Sa Kaeo, ThailandWon WBA mini-flyweight title
19Win19–0Vidal CernaTKO6 2 Sep 1995Gimnasio Alexis Arguello, Managua, Nicaragua
18Win18–0Alfredo VirgenUD1015 Jul 1995Gimnasio La Salle, Managua, Nicaragua
17Win17–0Abel AndresKO1 1 Apr 1995Gimnasio Alexis Arguello, Managua, Nicaragua
16Win16–0Juan GonzálezTKO2 18 Feb 1995Gimnasio Alexis Arguello, Managua, Nicaragua
15Win15–0Alfredo ToroKO1 17 Dec 1994Hotel Intercontinental, Managua, Nicaragua
14Win14–0Andres TavarezTKO2 26 Nov 1994Gimnasio Alexis Arguello, Managua, NicaraguaRetained WBA Fedelatin mini-flyweight title
13Win13–0José BonillaTKO11 23 Sep 1994Maracay, VenezuelaWon WBA Fedelatin mini-flyweight title
12Win12–0Jaime DíazTKO1 10 Sep 1994Gimnasio Alexis Arguello, Managua, Nicaragua
11Win11–0Juan Antonio TorresTKO6 16 Jul 1994Gimnasio Alexis Arguello, Managua, Nicaragua
10Win10–0Oscar VargasUD830 Apr 1994Gimnasio Central, San Salvador, El Salvador
9Win9–0Carlos PuenteKO1 29 Jan 1994Ingenio San Antonio Chichigalpa, Chinandega, Nicaragua
8Win8–0Mauricio BuitragoTKO7 27 Nov 1993Gimnasio Alexis Arguello, Managua, Nicaragua
7Win7–0Alcides HernándezTKO3 30 Oct 1993Gimnasio Alexis Arguello, Managua, Nicaragua
6Win6–0Lee SandovalUD1026 Sep 1993Gimnasio Alexis Arguello, Managua, Nicaragua
5Win5–0Rudy CrawfordTKO2 7 Aug 1993Gimnasio Alexis Arguello, Managua, Nicaragua
4Win4–0Lee SandovalUD815 May 1993Gimnasio Alexis Arguello, Managua, Nicaragua
3Win3–0Carlos López5 27 Feb 1993Gimnasio Alexis Arguello, Managua, Nicaragua
2Win2–0Gilbert García65 Feb 1993Gimnasio Metropolitano, León, Nicaragua
1Win1–0Pablo Torres3 12 Dec 1992Gimnasio Alexis Arguello, Managua, Nicaragua