Bradley, 29, was knocked down in the 12th round of the fight, and also badly hurt by big shots from Provodnikov in the 1st, 2nd, and 6th rounds.
Bradley-Provodnikov
Bradley-Provodnikov: Why Both Fighters Won and Lost
By Andrew Garewal: If you tuned in to watch the Tim Bradley – Ruslan Provodnikov bout this past Saturday night, you witnessed quite a battle ending in a unanimous decision for Timothy Bradley. Both fighters engaged in exciting flurries and dangerous exchanges which had the crowd on their feet throughout the fight.
Provodnikov landed the more significant punches, but Bradley managed to box his way to victory while Provodnikov was refueling his gas tank.
Provodnikov showed us that he truly is the “Siberian Rocky”, able to withstand brutal punishment and fight back with heart and ferocity. All the while Bradley was playing the role of “Desert Apollo Creed”, electing to abandon his outside game and over-confidently enter Rocky’s wheelhouse only to encounter a Russian bombardment.
Tim Bradley barely survives Ruslan Provodnikov
By Gerardo Granados: WBO Welterweight belt holder Tim Bradley put on a great effort and showed to have a heart bigger than his chest winning a close 12 round unanimous decision to the brave Russian fighter Ruslan Provodnikov, but also was exposed by a hard hitting but also limited brawler who failed to take several opportunities to knock out his rival.
The first two rounds were dominated by Provodnikov who failed to finish off Bradley. Tim was not counted for a clear knock down on the first round. On the third and fourth rounds Ruslan simply didn’t throw punches allowing his opponent to recover.
Provodnikov was instructed on his corner to be selective with his punches, maybe to avoid him running out off gas but he was also not instructed to attack the body.
Bradley: I think I have a concussion; Provodnikov can really punch
By Allan Fox: WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (30-0, 12 KO’s) was sporting a badly swollen up face tonight after getting past #3 WBO Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO’s) in earning a 12 round unanimous decision in what turned out to be a much closer fight than Bradley and many boxing fans expected it to be.
Bradley complained after the fight that he felt that he suffered a concussion in one of the rounds after getting hurt from one of Provodnikov’s many power shots. It’s hard to say precisely which round Bradley suffered a concussion, if that’s what actually did happen, because he was staggered in the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 12 rounds.
Provodnikov bludgeoned Bradley to the canvas in the 12 round after nailing him with a series of big right hands that concluded Bradley taking a knee and staying down until the count of 8 before rising to his feet. The final scores were 114-113, 114-113 and 115-113.
Bradley lucky to get win over Provodnikov
By Eric Thomas: WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (30-0, 12 KO’s) should be on his knees thanking referee Pat Russell tonight after Bradley defeated Russian challenger Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO’s) by a close 12 round unanimous decision in Carson, California.
The reason why Bradley should be thanking the referee is because Russell blew it by failing to call a knockdown in the 1st round where Bradley hit the decision after getting hurt.
Then in the 2nd and the 6th rounds, a badly hurt Bradley was held up by the ropes after getting tagged by Provodnikov. In both cases you can make a pretty argument that Provodnikov should have received credit for knockdowns in both of those rounds because the ropes clearly help Bradley up.
Arum better keep Bradley away from Keith Thurman
By Dan Ambrose: All I can say after watching WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (30-0, 12 KO’s) go life and death with light welterweight Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO’s) tonight is Bradley’s promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank better make sure that he has Bradley put off facing his mandatory challenger Keith Thurman for as long as possible to further milk his title because once Bradley faces Thurman, it’s going to be pretty much all over for Bradley.
Had that been Keith Thurman in the ring with Bradley tonight, Bradley wouldn’t have seen the 6th round. Thurman would have finished Bradley off quickly. As it was, Provodnikov had Bradley out on his feet in the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 12th rounds.
Bradley defeats Provodnikov; Vargas decisions Omotoso
By Jim Dower: WBO welterweight Tim Bradley (30-0, 12 KO’s) survived a 12th round knockdown, and getting badly hurt in the 1st, 2nd and 6th rounds to defeat challenger Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO’s) by a 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night by the scores of 114-113, 114-113 and 115-113 and the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
You can make a case where Provodnikov deserved credit for a knockdown in the 1st round after badly hurting Bradley and having him completely out on his fight, causing Bradley to hit the canvas.
However, referee Pat Russell failed to rule it a knockdown. In the 2nd round, Provodnikov once again had Bradley completely out on his feet, and it’s a miracle that the referee didn’t stop the fight.
Bradley: I’m going to outbox Provodnikov
By Eric Thomas: WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (29-0, 12 KO’s) seems to be sending mixed messages in talking about his fight tonight against Ruslan Provodnikov (22-1, 15 KO’s) on HBO. For weeks now Bradley has been talking about how he’s going to hurt him and make a statement by fighting the Russian light welterweight in a toe-to-toe battle, but now Bradley is saying he wants to outbox him.
Perhaps Bradley no longer cares about trying to impress boxing fans, and mainly just wants to get the win so he can move forward to bigger fights against Manny Pacquiao, Brandon Rios, and Mike Alvarado.
Bradley must win in style tonight against Provodnikov
By Dan Ambrose: Top Rank Promotions has put their fighter WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (29-0, 12 KO’s) in a situation where he’s going to have to win in style tonight against little known light welterweight Ruslan Provodnikov (22-1, 15 KO’s) if they don’t want Bradley’s stock to plummet any further than it already has from his highly controversial 12 round split decision win over Manny Pacquiao last June.
Bradley and Provodnikov will be fighting on HBO in front of a lot of fans when they meet tonight at the Home Depot Center, in Carson, California, USA.
Weigh-in: Bradley vs. Provodnikov
Provodnikov, 29, also came in at an identical 146.6 lbs. HBO will be televising the fight even though it’s more of a tune-up/title milking type fight for Bradley than actual title defense in the traditional sense.