Middleweight Willie Monroe Jr (21-2 6KOs) made a case to fight Canelo Alvarez after simply outclassing game veteran Gabriel Rosado (23-10 13KOs) in the co-main event of the Canelo Alvarez versus Liam Smith pay-per-view card at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

In the early going, Monroe Jr. outboxed Rosado who seemed stagnant and flat in the early going. Rosado in the middle rounds tried to switch things up by attacking the body, but the majority of the middle rounds were fought at distance with little action as Monroe Jr would stop any and all action that Rosado tried to bring.

A low stance and quick hands seemingly was too much for Rosado who simply walked into punches Monroe Jr.

In the seventh round, Rosado landed his best work of the fight and parlayed a bit of it into the 8th round, but by the 9th Monroe was back in complete control

The judges saw the bout 116-112, 118-110 and 117-111 for Willie Monroe Jr.

Monroe wins a lesser version of the WBO middleweight title which puts him in line for a shot at the winner of the main event.