Álvarez turned professional in 1985 and captured the vacant WBO flyweight title with a decision win over Miguel Mercedes in 1989, and quickly vacated his title in March 1990 due to lack of interest in belt. In 1991 he captured the WBA flyweight title with a decision win over Leopard Tamakuma, but lost it in his first defense to Yong-Kang Kim. In 1994, in his only American appearance, he lost a twelve-round decision to Junior Jones for the WBA bantamweight title. It was to be his last fight.
