By Babatis Banda: Mike Alvarado (34-2, 23 KO’s) was broken down by the ruthless Russian Ruslan Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KO’s). It was a good and exciting fight. For the casual fan, this was all that constitutes boxing, heavy exchanges and blood.
For an educated fan with an eye for skill, this was yet another senseless war, the kind that is crippling both physically and emotionally, a complete Gatti style that excites everybody and leaves the boxer to fight physical health and mental problems. More often than not, boxers who have such a terrible career while offering a casual fan excitement either end up depressed, physically sick or take their lives.
You will all agree with me that from round one to round six, Mike was very competitive and could have been leading on some of the judges’ cards. Why is this so? It is simply because he boxed Provodnikov. He made the Russian think twice sometimes, while he nailed him with really hard upper cuts. We all know that Ruslan is very physical. He is actually very imposing and Mike wilted to Ruslan’s will. I don’t know if Mike ran out of gas or if he felt he could slug it out with the Russian. What ever happened, that was the end of Alvarado. As far as I could see, Mike is not an ‘A’ fighter. He has a heart and some skill, but really Mike is a B-B+ fighter and he is also a little slow.
While the Russian was impressive, he takes in a lot of shots in his fights. He is pretty strong but he is still a human being and that is the reason he has those two losses. I just wanted to make it very clear here. Please do NOT talk of Provodnikov in the same breath with Floyd Mayweather. Even when you luck respect for the sport, do not put the Russian in the same grade with Floyd. Floyd would rip him apart and would frustrate him early and by the mid rounds, he would have his eyes closed. Speed, tight defense and good foot movement, like Mike exhibited early on would frustrate the hard hitting Russian. This is why I have never heard the Russian mention Mayweather, he understands the level at which Floyd operates. Even against Pacquiao, Ruslan would not survive beyond 10 rounds because he would be eating those straight lefts all night until he falls asleep.
For now, Ruslan should continue to build a name against fellow B+ grade fighters until that time when he has matured to combine both physical strength with a boxing mind. I have heard a few people dare Mayweather to challenge Ruslan. For me, it is out of pure luck of boxing knowledge that does that to some so called fans. They don’t see the world in its full color, but in shades of gray and white. When we talk Mayweather, I would rather we talk about him in the same sentence with Pacquiao, not that Pacquiao is the one to defeat him, but that he is the last standing, but battle worn warrior that requires an exclamation mark at the end of his sentence, and he should be hanging the leathers right after Mayweather beats him. I would also suggest that Mayweather/Pacquiao be Floyd’s last fight in the contract so that he goes in retirement fully satisfied and contended, both financially, physically and in the eyes of the real boxing fan.
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