Shamone Alvarez Set to Return Later This Summer
By Dave Sholler
Former NABO welterweight champion Shamone Alvarez (19-1, 11 KOs) will return to the ring for the first time in nearly seven months when he battles an yet-to-be-named opponent in Canada in August. Early indications are that Alvarez, who is promoted by Seminole Warriors Boxing, may land on a card sometime before the close of summer.
It will be the first time the 31-year-old Atlantic City native has fought since dropping a lopsided decision to Joshua Clottey in an IBF eliminator bout last December. Alvarez, who fights out of the same Atlantic City Police Athletic League camp as former heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, has been battling a respiratory condition that has hampered his training. While he made no excuses in losing to Clottey, Alvarez confirmed that his long-standing battle with asthma played a role in his sluggish performance against “The Hitter.”
“I feel fine now, but it’s just some days, I have breathing problems and they get the best of me,” Alvarez said, adding that seasonal pollens have not helped the cause. “It limits my ability to move fluidly and get comfortable in the ring.
“My doctors are treating me for it. It’s something I’m learning to deal with. Overall, I’m ready to rock.”
Alvarez is currently ranked 12th by the IBF and 21st by the IBO. In a crowded 147-pound division, the southpaw recognizes that he will need to pile up wins quickly in order to stay in contention.
“Right now, fighting is my career,” Alvarez, who also trains young fighters in Atlantic City, said. “I need to stay active. It’s the same with all fighters. We all want to fight for world titles and we need to get wins in order to do that.”
