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Denver’s Mike Alvarado may have lost a bombarding bout against Brandon Rios in October, but he can take some solace in knowing it was well-received. The Alvarado-Rios bout, at the Home Depot Center near Los Angeles, on Wednesday was named the Fight of the Year for 2012 by Sports Illustrated. The two brawlers stood toe-to-toe the entire fight, swapping uppercuts and hooks. The fight was nearly even through six rounds — including a loaded fifth round of flurries from both fighters. Rios, though, used a series of punches in the seventh round to push Alvarado to the ropes, forcing the referee to stop the bout. Denver Post staff
