By Rick Reeno

MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Mike Alvarado (32-0, 23KOs), bloody and bruised, came from behind to stop Breidis Prescott (24-4, 19KOs) in the tenth and final round.

Alvarado started very slow, allowing Prescott to outwork him in the early rounds. Alvarado's face was swelling by the third round. Alvarado was taking a beating in the fourth, as Prescott unleashed with both hands and him in trouble against the ropes. Prescott was letting those hands fly and Alvarado's face was swollen and bloody. There seemed to be a very bad cut in Alvarado's mouth, around his eye and possibly on his forehead.

In the sixth, Alvarado started working much better and landing a few punches. Prescott was willing to trade and stood inside with quicker hands and the higher connect percentage. Prescott was slowing down and tiring in the seventh, but stood inside and traded hard punches for most of the eight. The late rounds were close, with Alvarado trying to rally hard, but Prescott managed to stay in there and took the punches well.

Alvarado was going strong in the ninth - and during the tenth and final round - Prescott was rocked and dropped as the crowd erupted. Alvarado closed in for the kill and started punishing Prescott with punches from all angles, including some vicious uppercuts on the inside. Prescott was being battered, and out on his feet, as the referee jumped in to wave it off.