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Steve KimESPN
A relatively tame and forgettable bout came to an explosive finish as light heavyweight Eleider Alvarez scored a seventh-round knockout of Michael Seals at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York.
The finish came near the end the round, with both men throwing right hands simultaneously, but it was Alvarez’s punch that found the mark. Seals was seemingly out on his feet even before his body hit the canvas. Referee Danny Schiavone didn’t feel the need to administer the mandatory eight count, as he made the decision to call an end to the fight.
For much of this bout, Alvarez (25-2, 19 KOs) was the more composed fighter, as he was able to control Seals and defuse his hard-punching power. Seals (24-2, 12 KOs) had come into this contest with a series of eye-opening knockouts but was never able to get on track on Saturday night.
Seals had a reputation of being a big puncher, but he was simply too tentative versus Alvarez, who, if anything, is tough and durable. From the very beginning of this bout, it was Alvarez who was the more composed boxer, and while Seals landed the occasional punch, the majority of the action was carried by Alvarez. While Seals looked skittish and unsure of himself for much of the fight, Alvarez just put forth a consistent, poised effort.
Seals has a proclivity for holding his right hand low, which made him vulnerable to right hands — which was the exact punch that felled him in the eighth.
Alvarez, the former WBO light heavyweight titlist, was making his first appearance in the ring since losing his rematch to Sergey Kovalev last February. At age 35, he showed that he is still very much a world-class light heavyweight.