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.
Ruslan Provodnikov
Mike Alvarado vs. Ruslan Provodnikov confirmed for October 19th on HBO
By Eric Thomas: The October 19th fight between light welterweight Mike Alvarado (34-1, 23 KO’s) and Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO’s) has been confirmed. The fight will take place at the First Bank Center, Denver, Colorado, USA, and will be televised by HBO.
If Provodnikov can fight like he did against WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley last March, it could be a good fight. Provodnikov looked good and almost got a knockout in the 12th. Alvarado recently avenged his loss to Brandon Rios by defeating him in their rematch last March.
Alvarado had to change his fighting style in order to win by circling constantly, and using in and out attacks. However, it was effective because he survived to get the decision.
Mike Alvarado vs. Ruslan Provodnikov a done deal for October 19th; fight at 140 lbs
Here we go! RT @BrandonSpano The deal is done. Mike Alvarado will face Ruslan Provodnikov at the First Bank Center in Denver on October 19th
— Mike Alvarado (@MileHighMike303) July 23, 2013
By Chris Williams: Mike Alvarado (34-1, 23 KO’s) vs. Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO’s) is now a done deal for October 19th at the First Bank Center, in Denver, Colorado, USA. The fight will take place at 140 and they’ll be battling for the WBO light welterweight title.
Ruslan Provodnikov vs. Mike Alvarado possible October 19th in Denver
By Allan Fox: A match-up between WBO interim light welterweight champion Mike Alvarado (34-1, 23 KO’s) and Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO’s) is possible for October 19th in Denver for a fight that could be televised on HBO, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is working on putting the fight together.
It’s still early to know whether he can pull this fight off, but it’s looking good thus far. One thing that isn’t known is what weight class the fight will take place at.
Provodnikov fights at welterweight, whereas Alvarado is still fighting at 140 despite being huge for that weight. It’s probable that Provodnikov would be asked to come down in weight to fight Alvarado rather than him coming up in weight, especially given that the fight will be taking place in Denver.
Provodnikov is the #1 avoided & dangerous boxer
By Boxing Muse – @BoxingMuse – When Ruslan ‘Siberian Rocky’ Provodnikov fought Tim Bradley in their March 16th dust up he earned himself the unofficial title of boxing’s most avoided and dangerous fighter. Sharing that reputation with heavy handed middleweight freak of nature Gennadiy Golovkin.
Although the boxing world is becoming aware of ‘Kazakh KO King’ Golovkin, experts in the fraternity have been expressing their highly regarding opinions of Gennadiy for some time now and only recently has he been taken seriously despite his tumultuous amateur career and having never been knocked down or knocked out in over 375 fights (amateur and professional combined) people were slow to give him credit.
Provodnikov interested in fighting Matthysse
By Dan Ambrose: Welterweight contender Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO’s) says he’d like to face WBC interim light welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse (34-2, 32 KO’s) in the near future, according to Maxboxing.com.
Provodnikov needs a fight after losing by a close 12 round unanimous decision to WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley last March, and there isn’t one out there for him right now. Had Provodnikov beaten Bradley, he’d have gotten a rematch, but the loss took that away from him and Bradley has been quiet about the idea of fighting him again.
Pacquiao to spar Provodnikov to get ready for Rios
By Chris Williams: Former welterweight title challenger Ruslan Provodnikov will be one of the sparring partners to help get Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KO’s) get ready for his November 24th fight against Brandon Rios (31-1-1, 23 KO’s) at the Cotai Arena, Venetian Resort, Macao, Macao S.A.R., China, according to the Sweetscience.com.
Provodnikov, 29, is trained by the same guy, Freddie Roach, Pacquiao and he’s worked as a sparring partner for Pacquiao in the past.
Provodnikov is coming off a close 12 round unanimous decision loss to WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley last March in a fight where he had Bradley hurt several times in the fight from big shots to the head.
Bradley-Provodnikov televised replay tonight on HBO @ 10:35 p.m. ET/PT
By Eric Thomas: If boxing fans want to see the replay of the Tim Bradley vs. Ruslan Provodnikov fight then they need to tune in to HBO tonight at 10:35 p.m. ET/PT to check out this Fight of the Year candidate. Also on HBO tonight will be a replay of the Road to Rios-Alvarado II that will be shown after the Bradley vs. Provodnikov replay.
Bradley (30-0, 12 KO’s) is quite fortunate that he was able to escape the Provodnikov fight with his title still in his possession because he could have lost the fight had the referee called 10-8 rounds in the 1st, 2nd and 6th rounds when Bradley badly hurt.
Provodnikov now a full-time welterweight
By Chris Williams: #3 WBO Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO’s) has reportedly officially moved up to the welterweight division following his 12 round unanimous decision loss to WBO welterweight champion on March 16th of this month at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Steve Kim is reporting that the 29-year-old Provodnikov has moved up in weight from 140.
The move makes a lot of sense for Provodnikov because he had been said to be struggling to make the weight for the light welterweight class. At least this way he doesn’t have to worry about draining himself each time he fights to get down to 140. But more important than that, Provodnikov is now fighting in the weight class where he has the most opportunities.
Arum rules out Bradley vs. Provodnikov rematch
By Chris Williams: Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has no interest in match his fighter WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (30-0, 12 KO’s) back up with Banner Promotions fighter Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO’s) for a rematch, even though boxing fans want to see the two fighters go at it again after enjoying their fight last Saturday night.
Arum is satisfied with the 12 round unanimous decision that Bradley got in that fight, and he now plans on matching him with one of his Top Rank stable fighters – Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, Brandon Rios or Mike Alvarado next.