Alvarado vs. Provodnikov

Mike Alvarado Bows Down to Ruslan Provodnikov

alvarado62Saturday night Mike Alvarado felt good. Why shouldn’t he? He was in front of his hometown fans at 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Denver, Colorado. He was feeling very confidant and ready to give the 29 yr old Ruslan Provodnikov a boxing lesson. He was eager to tee off on the head of this straight forward Russian from Beryozovo. He watched Timothy Bradley win a tough fight against Ruslan. He also knew “Desert Storm” came close to getting stopped. But, Mike wasn’t going to get sucked into a slugfest with Ruslan, but even if he did he still had the size and strength advantage, right?

HBO’s Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Roy Jones, Jr. weren’t so sure. They wondered which Mike was going to show up Saturday night? The one who got stopped in the first fight with Brandon Rios, or the Alvarado who showed up in the 2nd fight, the Alvarado who boxed beautifully to get a win over Rios. They collectively thought there was a real danger that once Mike got tagged, he would get pulled into the trenches and start trading with Ruslan.

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Who next for sensational slugger Ruslan Provodnikov?

Alvarado_Provodnikov_131019_001a-2-480x308The look on Russian warrior Ruslan Provodnikov’s face said it all. Moments after he’d taken all the fight out of the tough and gutsy Mike Alvarado, Provodnikov, blood trickling down his swollen face, let loose with his emotions. Proud to be a world champion, stating afterwards what it means to him to be “a world champion like Leonard and Duran,” Provodnikov saw all his years of toil come to the good.

Last night’s terrific fight was advertised as just that and Provodnikov (and Alvardo) delivered as he usually does. Now 23-2(16), the 29-year-old who came short in that January classic with Tim Bradley can now look ahead to some well deserved big fights and big pay days.

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What Did Ruslan Provodnikov’s Victory Really Tell Us?

Alvarado_Provodnikov_131019_002a-2-480x335Ruslan Provodnikov scored a spectacular late round stoppage against Mike Alvarado tonight. It was something else. Provodnikov really looked up to the task. He was just brutal and relentless, and like a hungry shark hunting beneath shadowy waters, Provodnikov always seemed carried by forward momentum. A savage and consistent barrage of sharp hooks, crisp rights, and wicked body shots ultimately led to Alvarado’s demise. Provodnikov’s offense was running on all cylinders, and the surprisingly vicious outcome here helps to provide boxing fans with some new perspective for a couple of things.

For starters, Timothy Bradley is looking pretty good right about now. When Bradley struggled against Provodnikov in what some considered a disputed win, people were highly critical of him especially since this followed his extremely controversial Pacquiao victory. Now within the span of a week, not only has Bradley soundly beaten the still formidable future Hall of Famer, Juan Manuel Marquez, but Provodnikov also stepped up and again made people take notice with his destruction of Alvarado. With the advantage of hindsight it now becomes clear that Provodnikov was a far greater opponent (and win) for Bradley than people then realized.

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Ruslan Provodnikov stops Mike Alvarado to claim the WBO light-welterweight title

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In a classic bout that lived up to it’s billing, Ruslan Provodnikov won the WBO Jr. Welterweight championship when Mike Alvarado did not continue after round ten of a scheduled twelve round bout at the before 7.012 fans at a soldout 1stBank Arena.

The fight was promoted by Top Rank and Banner Promotions.

The two slugged it out from the opening bell with Provodnikov rocking Alvarado in round one. The two fought at a fast pace and traded vicious shots which thrilled the crowd for every second of the fight.

Alvarado tried to box and move to offset the relentless pressure of Provodnikov. In round seven, Provodnikov started to bleed from the nose and later suffered a cut over his right eye. In round eight the fight turned in favor of Provodnikov when he sent Alvarado to canvas on two occasions.

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Provodnikov stops Alvarado in 10th

Alvarado_Provodnikov_131019_004a-2-480x312Ruslan Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KO’s) ended the brief reign of WBO light welterweight champion Mike Alvarado (34-2, 23 KO’s) by defeating him by 10th round stoppage tonight in a two knockdown victory at the 1STBANK Center, Broomfield, in Denver, Colorado, USA. In the 10th round, Provodnikov staggered a tired and badly beaten Alvarado, pummeling him with powerful shots for the last minute of the round.

Alvarado was ready to go in the last 20 seconds of the round while trapped against the ropes badly hurt. Somehow Alvarado made it out of the round, but there was no way that he was going to be able to make it through the 11th. After the round, Alvarado’s corner wisely halted the fight rather than letting him come out for the 11th and get finished off by Provodnikov.

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Mike Alvarado vs. Ruslan Provodnikov: This one has fight of the year written all over it!

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After successfully avenging a loss from Brandon Rios early this year, Mike Alvarado’s reward from Top Rank was some good ole fashion home cooking and a stylistic matchup with Ruslan Provodnikov that should guarantee entertainment.

Can Alvarado stay focused on the game plan with extra weight placed on his shoulders by a hero’s welcome he’ll get from his fans that will fill the 1STBANK Center in Denver, Colorado? Will Provodnikov build on a loss that raised his profile amongst fans who thought he was only at the ESPN level talent?

And most importantly to the fans that tune in on HBO and fill the seats of the live gate, will there be blood?

Ruslan Provodnikov had his moment in the spotlight last March on HBO in what was supposed to be a showcase fight for Timothy Bradley after being out of the ring with injuries, both physical and emotional he sustained during and after his fight with Manny Pacquiao.

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Alvarado & Provodnikov Interview Transcript

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For the first time in 13 years, and leave it to local world champion “Mile High” Mike Alvarado to do it, the Denver area will host a world championship boxing event. A sellout crowd is expected. It will be broadcast live on HBO beginning 9:45 pm ET and will be book-ended with some incredible programming for boxing fans — the replay of last week’s Timothy Bradley – Juan Manuel Márquez world welterweight title fight before and Legendary Nights: The Tale of Gatti-Ward, following the live fight.

BOB ARUM: There is not much I can say as a promoter. You don’t have to sell this fight. Everyone that knows anything about boxing knows that this fight will be a candidate for ‘Fight of the Year.” Two great warriors – two guys that entertain the public. You don’t need a sales pitch for this one and it’s showing at the box office as there are so few tickets left and by fight time it will be sold out.

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Face Off With Max Kellerman: Alvarado/Provodnikov Debuts Saturday, Oct. 5 on HBO

Sept. 19, 2013 – Fight fans eager for a unique inside look at the highly anticipated Oct. 19th HBO World Championship Boxing® showdown between junior welterweights Mike Alvarado and Ruslan Provodnikov should mark their calendars to catch an all-new edition of “Face Off,” starring the two prizefighters. “Face Off With Max Kellerman: Alvarado/Provodnikov” debuts Saturday, Oct. 5 at 1:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on HBO immediately following an action-filled evening of boxing programming on the network highlighted by a World Championship Boxing card live from Orlando, FL.

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Alvarado vs Provodnikov Tickets Go On Sale Friday

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Denver’s very own homegrown world champion “Mile High” MIKE ALVARADO will make the first defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight title a “home game,” when he battles No. 1 contender RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV of Russia, Saturday, October 19, at 1STBANK Center in nearby Broomfield, Colo. This marks the area’s first world championship fight featuring a local fighter since September 15, 2000 when former World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Stevie Johnston unsuccessfully challenged defending WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo, via majority draw, at Pepsi Center. Alvarado vs. Provodnikov will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. This will be the first time HBO has televised a live fight from Colorado.

Alvarado and Provodnikov enter this world title tilt fresh from Fight of the Year performances that took place in March, just two weeks apart from each other, and were televised on HBO®. They boast a combined record of 56-3 (38 KOs) — a winning percentage of 95% and a victory by knockout ratio of 68%.

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Ruslan Provodnikov arrives in LA to begin training camp to take on Mike Alvarado

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Ruslan Provodnikov has landed in Los Angeles to begin training camp for his much anticipated showdown with WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Mike Alvarado that will take place on Saturday, October 19th at First Bank Arena in Denver, Colorado.

The bout will be live on HBO’s Championship boxing and is promoted by Top Rank and Banner Promotions.
 
Provodnikov will be training at the Wild Card Gym under the watchful eye of Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.
 
Provodnikov of Beryozovo, Russia has a record of 22-2 with fifteen knockouts and has become 2013’s breakout star.  He won his first seventeen bouts with wins over Emanuel Augustus and former world champion Javier Juaragui.  Since suffering his first pro defeat, Provodnikov went on terrific run of five straight wins over the likes of undefeated Ivan Popoca, former world champion DeMarcus Corley, David Torres and Jose Reynoso before his memorable March 16, 2013 clash with undefeated WBO Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.

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