Donaire: Marquez Will KO Alvarado, Lose To Pacquiao

By Edward Chaykovsky

Former world champion Nonito Donaire is picking Juan Manuel Marquez to score a knockout win over Mike Alvarado on May 17th at the Forum in Los Angeles. The winner of that match will get a guarateed shot at WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.

Although the Mexican star has protested the idea of a fifth fight with Pacquiao, Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach expects him to accept the contest. Roach also expects Pacquiao to avenge his sixth round knockout loss to Marquez from their fourth meeting in 2012. Donaire agrees.

“I think Marquez will knock him out with a head or body shot,” said Donaire to philboxing.com. “Alvarado’s not the same fighter anymore. He was badly beaten up by Ruslan and I don’t think he’ll ever recover from that. He’s also not a disciplined fighter. Marquez will beat Alvarado then go on to fight Manny again. This time, Manny will beat Marquez convincingly. Marquez has slowed down a lot and looked old in losing to Bradley. But he should be able to take care of Alvarado.”