Rosendo José Álvarez Hernández (born May 6, 1970) 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 (WBA) 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.

One of his trainers was María Toto.

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 (twin brother of Chana), 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

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes43Loss37–4–2Jean SampsonDQ5 (8), 26 May 201242Loss37–3–2Jorge ArceKO6 (12), 8 Apr 200641Win37–2–2Eduardo PachecoTKO6 (10), 4 Feb 200640Win36–2–2Jorge RomeroTKO6 (10), 10 Dec 200539Win35–2–2Julio GrimaldoUD1029 Oct 200538WinRegulo GamezKO7 (10), 26 Feb 200537Win33–2–2Beibis MendozaSD122 Oct 200436Draw32–2–2Víctor Burgos1213 Dec 200335Win32–2–1Beibis MendozaMD1231 Mar 200334Win31–2–1Pichit Chor SiriwatTKO12 (12), 19 Jan 200233Win30–2–1David TorresKO3 (10), 14 Dec 200132Win29–2–1Beibis MendozaSD123 Mar 200131Win28–2–1Cipriano LandaTKO2 (10)8 Dec 200030Loss27–2–1Beibis Mendoza7 (12), 12 Aug 200029Win27–1–1Tomás RojasUD1011 Mar 200028Win26–1–1Arturo VelazquezTKO2 (8), 18 Dec 199927Win25–1–1Paulino VillalobosUD1027 Feb 199926Loss24–1–1Ricardo LópezSD1213 Nov 199825Draw24–0–1Ricardo López7 (12), 7 Mar 199824Win24–0Songkram PorpaoinTKO11 (12), 11 Jan 199723Win23–0Takashi ShiohamaKO8 (12), 1 Oct 199622Win22–0Eric Chavez1215 Jun 199621Win21–0Kermin GuardiaKO3 (12), 30 Mar 199620Win20–0Chana Porpaoin122 Dec 199519Win19–0Vidal CernaTKO6 (10)2 Sep 199518Win18–0Alfredo VirgenUD1015 Jul 199517Win17–0Abel AndresKO1 (10)1 Apr 199516Win16–0Juan GonzálezTKO2 (10)18 Feb 199515Win15–0Alfredo ToroKO1 (10)17 Dec 199414Win14–0 Andres TavarezTKO2 (12)26 Nov 199413Win13–0José BonillaTKO11 (12)23 Sep 199412Win12–0Jaime DíazTKO1 (10)10 Sep 199411Win11–0Juan Antonio TorresTKO6 (10)16 Jul 199410Win10–0Oscar VargasUD830 Apr 19949Win9–0Carlos PuenteKO1 (10)29 Jan 19948Win8–0Mauricio BuitragoTKO7 (10)27 Nov 19937Win7–0Alcides HernándezTKO3 (10)30 Oct 19936Win6–0Lee SandovalUD1026 Sep 19935Win5–0Rudy CrawfordTKO2 (8)7 Aug 19934Win4–0Lee SandovalUD815 May 19933Win3–0Carlos López5 (8)27 Feb 19932Win2–0Gilbert García65 Feb 19931Win1–0Pablo Torres3 (10)12 Dec 1992

See also List of world mini-flyweight boxing champions List of world light-flyweight boxing champions

References

External links