Promoter: Brandon Rios, Mike Alvarado agree to March 30 rematch

Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado’s epic brawl at Home Depot Center in October will have a sequel.

Promoter Bob Arum said Wednesday that Rios and Alvarado have agreed to a junior-welterweight rematch March 30 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Rios (31-0-1, 23 knockouts) won the October bout by technical knockout in the seventh round after taking some of Alvarado’s best punches in earlier rounds.

The gripping battle was poised to be the 2012 fight of the year until Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao engaged in a classic, featuring an exchange of knockdowns before Marquez knocked out Pacquiao in devastating fashion at the end of the sixth round in December.

Alvarado (33-1, 23 KOs) made the first Rios fight all-action, getting the best of flurries early while his disregard for defense left him exposed to some of Rios’ best blows, as well.

Rios unleashed a pair of hard overhand rights in the seventh, then pounded two lefts to Alvarado’s head, forcing referee Pat Russell to stop the fight.

Alvarado marked Rios under the right eye, and often battered the former world lightweight champion in exchanges that drew roars from the sellout crowd of 7,665.

Rios admitted that night he was hurt at times, “but I didn’t show it, and kept on doing my thing.”

Rios rocked Alvarado’s jaw with the rights in the seventh, causing Alvarado to reel back to the ropes, while referee Russell peered in, clearly alarmed.

Arum added he’s also closing in on finalizing an April 13 super-bantamweight title fight between Nonito Donaire and Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux, and the next fight for World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.

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Lance.pugmire@latimes.com

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