inside the knicks Why Knicks brawler Jose Alvarado gave up boxing for the sweet science of scrapping with opponents By Stefan Bondy Published March 5, 2026, 6:20 a.m. ET Jose Alvarado expresses himself during the Knicks' win over the Rockets on Feb. 21, 2026. AP TORONTO — If you saw Jose Alvarado’s perfectly placed right hook on the cheek of Suns center Mark Williams, you wouldn’t be surprised by his background.
Alvarado’s first passion, as a Brooklyn-bred Boricua, was boxing. He learned it from his father, also named Jose Alvarado, who was steering toward a pugilist career before raising children took precedence.
Alvarado was furnished with gloves, pads, a mouthpiece. He was trained by his father inside their apartment. Alvarado was a quick learner. He loved it. He adored it so much he had to quit.
“You want the real reason I stopped?” Alvarado asked.
