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.
Weigh-in: Bradley vs. Provodnikov
Ruslan Provodnikov
Bradley: Provodnikov doesn’t belong in the same ring with me
Bradley said to Radio Raheem “Some people may not believe it [that Bradley is the best fighter in the welterweight division], but I’m going to show it on Saturday night…I was the first to beat him [Manny Pacquiao]. Pacquiao was damaged goods [for Juan Manuel Marquez last December]…I’m going to prove on Saturday night that Ruslan Provodnikov doesn’t belong in the same ring with me.
Bradley-Provodnikov: “Desert Storm” returns to the ring on Saturday on HBO
HBO Sports’ flagship boxing series returns with an intriguing doubleheader headlined by the return of Timothy Bradley Jr. in a welterweight title fight when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR. VS. RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV AND JESSIE VARGAS VS. WALE OMOTOSO is seen SATURDAY, MARCH 16 at 10:15 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Home Depot Center in Carson, Cal., exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team of Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Roy Jones Jr. will call all the action, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino. Other HBO playdates: March 17 (10:30 a.m.) and 18 (11:30 p.m.) HBO2 playdates: March 17 (4:45 p.m.) and 19 (11:30 p.m.)
In the 12-round main event, undefeated Timothy Bradley Jr. (29-0, 12 KOs), a lifelong resident of Palm Springs, Cal., defends his world welterweight title against Russia’s Ruslan Provodnikov (22-1, 15 KOs). Bradley soared through the junior welterweight ranks, defeating all challengers, and scored a controversial split-decision victory over superstar Manny Pacquiao on June 9, 2012. Now the engaging and confident 29-year-old makes his first title defense at 147 pounds.
Bradley: Provodnikov needs to worry about my power, I’m going to damage him
By Allan Fox: After nine years of rarely knocking out anyone in the pro ranks, WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (29-0, 12 KO’s) says he’s developed power during the last training camp and that he’s going to use this newfound power to stop his light welterweight opponent Ruslan Provodnikov (22-1, 15 KO’s) on March 16th at the Home Depot Center, in Carson, California, USA.
Bradley said “I am looking to make a statement in this fight, and am looking to damage this guy…he needs to worry about power.”
Bradley has put on size for Provodnikov bout, says manager
By Dan Ambrose: WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (29-0, 12 KO’s) defends his title against ESPN2 favorite Ruslan Provdonikov (22-1, 15 KO’s in less than two weeks on March 16th at the Home Depot Center, in Carson, California, USA 12. Bradley’s manager Cameron Dunkin says Bradley has put on more size and now he’s a legitimate welterweight instead of a light welterweight.
Dunkin commented to RingTV “He’s [Bradley] the biggest he’s ever been in his career right now…Tim is the strongest that he’s ever been. The biggest and the strongest that he’s ever been.”
Bradley says he’s found new power for Provodnikov
Bradley said to Radio Raheem “I think they need to seem some knockouts. I’m not a huge puncher, but I can fight and they need to see me beating up this guy [Provodnikov]. Fans want to see excitement and I’m going to bring the intensity.
Bradley: I want to make a statement in beating Provodnikov
By Chris Williams: WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (29-0, 12 KO’s) is finally getting around to defending his World Boxing Organization title after sitting around and doing nothing since beating Manny Pacquiao by a controversial 12 round split decision last year in June. Bradley could have fought for good money against Lamont Peterson, but turned down the $2.3 million fight.
Bradley won’t be making nearly as much in his fight against a non-welterweight in 140 lb. contender Ruslan Provodnikov (22-1, 15 KO’s) next month on March 16th at Home Depot Center, in Carson, California, USA.
Bradley: We don’t know if Provodnikov is elite or not
By Chris Williams: WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (29-0, 12 KO’s) is taking a lot of heat for turning down a fight with Lamont Peterson and instead choosing to fight #2 WBO 140 lb. contender Ruslan Provodnilov (22-1, 15 KO’s) on March 16th in a fight that HBO has agreed to televise at the Home Depot Center, in Carson, California, USA.
Bradley said to Radio Raheem “We don’t know if he’s [Provodnikov] an elite fighter because this is the first time he’s fought an elite fighter. I do know he’s rated #2 [at 140], which is a great, great spot for him, and he’s earned this opportunity. He has one loss on his resume, he’s fought great opposition.”
Bradley: Provodnikov is really going to test me on March 16th
By Chris Williams: WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (29-0, 12 KO’s) will be emerging from 9 long months of inactivity to finally make his first defense of his World Boxing Organization 147 lb title against light welterweight Ruslan Provodnikov (22-1, 15 KO’s) at the Home Depot Center, in Carson, California, USA.
Why Bradley is facing a light welterweight instead of a welterweight is something only he and his promoter Bob Arum knows, but it’s likely because there aren’t enough Top Rank stable fighters for Bradley to fight at that weight. So instead of fighting the likes Victor Ortiz or Marcos Maidana, Bradley has to settle for a 140 pounder that has mainly been seen by American audiences on ESPN2.
De La Hoya: Is Bradley-Provodnikov on ESPN?
By Chris Williams: Earlier today, Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions was in the mood to tease Top Rank about matching WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley (29-0, 12 KO’s) against Ruslan Provodnikov (22-1, 15 KO’s) on March 16th.
The 29-year-old Provodnikov is known to American boxing fans because of the many occasions his fights have been televised on ESPN rather than the premium cable networks HBO and Showtime. It’s perceived by a lot of boxing fans that the more talented fighters compete on HBO and Showtime.