Roger Gutierrez and Rene Alvarado have become all too familiar with one another in the ring.

Both vow to change that the third time around.

The rubber match between the pair of junior lightweights takes place this Saturday, live on DAZN from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. It comes just six months after their thrilling rematch, which saw Gutierrez score three knockdowns—including one in the twelfth and final round—to prevail by narrow unanimous decision over Alvarado this past January at American Airlines Center in nearby Dallas.

Gutierrez (25-3-1, 20KOs) accomplished two feats with one win—avenging a knockout loss from two-and-a-half years prior while snatching a secondary version of the WBA junior lightweight title from Alvarado. With the series already boasting two very different fights and outcomes, both guarantee a new look for the trilogy.

“No two fights look alike,” Nicaragua’s Alvarado (32-9, 21KOs) noted during Thursday’s final pre-fight press conference from theStar Ballroom at Omni Frisco Hotel. “Unfortunately, [the rematch] was not our night. We now have something to prove.”

So, too, does Gutierrez as the most recent winner and defending titleholder.

“Getting to the top is hard; staying at the top is harder,” notes Gutierrez, who is riding a six-fight win streak. “The trick is to change and adapt to the fighter and the fight.”

Adapting to an opponent you’ve already faced twice—and have beaten once—shouldn’t be too difficult. Coming up with a new wrinkle after sharing the ring for 19 rounds is a taller order.

Gutierrez had to dig deep in avenging his previous loss, coming in a fight dedicated to the memory of his late mother whom he lost one month prior. Even with three knockdowns, he still had to withstand a late surge from Alvarado, whose eight-fight win streak at the time included a one-sided seventh round stoppage of Gutierrez 30 months prior.

The last win among that stretch for Alvarado came in November 2019, avenging a loss of his own in a seventh-round stoppage of Andrew Cancio to win the secondary title he ultimately conceded to Gutierrez in his first defense. Therein lies the motivating factor for the challenger and hopeful two-time titlist.

“The difference is that we now have a new objective and that is to regain the title,” claims Alvarado. “I went into the last fight as the champion. The objective is to now leave this (third) fight once again as the champion.”

Naturally, that opinion is challenged by his adversary.

“Everyone has their own opinions,” Gutierrez responded. “That doesn’t affect me. I am the champion and will work hard to remain the world champion.”

The bout serves in supporting capacity to a welterweight battle between rising contender and local favorite Vergil Ortiz Jr. (17-0, 17KOs) and former title challenger Egidijus Kavaliauskas (22-1-1, 18KOs).

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox