Provodnikov vs. Molina Jr. is a fight to achieve boxing Valhalla

By Boxing News - 06/10/2016 - Comments

Provodnikov and Molina compare muscles

By Gerardo Granados: I cannot recall if it has happened in the past that on back to back weekends, we the fight fans, had at least the possibility to watch two fights of the year performances. This Saturday, on June 11 at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York, the “Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov (25-4) will fight against John John Molina Jr. (28-6) in a fight that no one will get bored watching. Today both fighters tip the scales at 140 pounds so we have a fight.

I said to a friend, who is excited about the upcoming Provodnikov vs. Molina fight, that to these ring warriors I call “Valhalla fighters”, because they look for prize fighting immortality thru engaging in a grueling fight that can please all fight fans, the boxing purist included. If it wasn’t that way, then all fights of the year awards would go to the Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tyson Fury I or Floyd Mayweather Jr vs. Manny Pacquiao type of fights instead.

I believe all brawlers are willing to take the risks in order to win a fight, which might be normal, it’s odd but on times more skilled boxers seem to be reluctant to take the same risks. Is it their heart, their pride or just the mere need to earn a living out of prizefighting the main factor that makes such difference?

The Ruslan Provodnikov and John John Molina Jr. type of fighters often don’t have long boxing careers, but they do get to live long in the memory of real fight fans. Both have already won The Ring Magazine fight of the year award, 2013 Tim Bradley vs Ruslan Provodnikov and 2014 Lucas Matthysse vs John John Molina Jr.

Next Saturday night, two brave hungry lions will fight to prove who the best of them is; they won’t be fighting for a huge millionaire purse. None the less I can guarantee to the reader that they will make us feel proud to be fight fans.

It also is a blessing for hardcore fight fans that we can get to see this type of fights without the need of major media hype or because fans were misled to believe that only the so called big names can deliver an exciting fight to watch.

Yeah, it’s true; both fighters have slowed down a bit, but this bout isn’t way past due as one that charged $100.00 notes. The fighters involved are not shot or evidently are not able to stand their ground to fight.

What Micky Ward did from 2001 thru 2003 was not easy; to win 3 times the fight of the year award by The Ring Magazine. No, Ward was not regarded as a big name or as a top 10 contender, but he did give to us the fight fans 3 epic battles to remember.

Back in 2001, Ward with a record of W36-L10-D0 beat via Unanimous Decision in 10 rounds “journeyman” Emmanuel Augustus who had a record of W24-L17-D4. In 2002 Ward beat Arturo Gatti via Majority Decision in again another 10 round bout; then in 2003 lost a Unanimous Decision in 10 rounds to Arturo Gatti. By the way, there were no fancy belts involved in those bouts.
In my eyes, Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti are Valhalla fighters and so do are Provodnikov and Molina.

I already invited friends over to watch the Provodnikov vs Molina fight. Someone asked me if the Roman Martinez vs Vasyl Lomachenko fight was a better option to watch because Vasyl was looking for to make “boxing history by becoming a two-division titlist on his seventh pro bout”. I replied to him that for me an epic battle is way more important to watch than a statistical record.

Now, please don’t get me wrong, the Martinez vs Lomachenko bout can turn out into a darn good fight too, but for them to compete to become a fight of the year nominees, will take them to forget their more natural fighting style and to fully commit to please the crowd. It would be amazing if this fight can turn into a fight of the year nominee too, don’t you think?
I see this one as an even fight although I give the edge to the Siberian Rocky, but I won’t bet on this one.

I believe so but what about the readers; are Provodnikov and Molina Jr fighting to achieve boxing Valhalla?