By Edward Chaykovsky

Brandon Rios (33-2-1, 24 KOs) saw Saturday's victory over former WBO light welterweight champion Mike Alvarado (34-3, 23 KOs) as the best performance of his career. Before a hometown crowd at the 1st Bank Center, in Broomfield, Colorado - Alvarado was beat up and stopped within three one-sided rounds.

Rios pounded him to the body and head from the opening round and continued to batter him minute after minute until the ring doctor stopped the fight following the end of the third.

Rios looked good but he was up against a fighter who didn't properly train and had nothing in the tank.

"It was my best fight ever. My plan was to box from the outside and hit him with body shots. Our careers were on the line. I had to prove to everybody that I'm here to stay," Rios said.