Welterweight Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO’s) has agreed to fight WBO interim light welterweight champion Mike Alvarado (34-1, 23 KO’s) on October 19th in a fight that could take place in Alvarado’s home city of Denver, Colorado. HBO would be televising the fight.
Now they’re waiting on Top Rank promoter Bob Arum to get his fighter Alvarado to agree to the deal. It’s not likely that Alvarado will turn it down, because he doesn’t have a ton of options right now in terms of fights.
“I am ready to fight the best. I know that in the fight against Bradley the title of the world champion was essentially in my hands, and now I feel even closer to it. I am confident that I will face Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September or shortly after that, and I am ready for that. I don’t like making predictions, but I know that styles make fights, and I think I can win. I know that I would be a rough opponent for him, the kind he hasn’t yet faced. Mayweather Jr. has amazing technique, and I have great power in both hands. It would be the kind of fight that everyone likes to watch,” stated Ruslan Provodnikov said to gorodokboxing.com.
I am not sure where he got the idea that he is anywhere in line to face Mayweather Jr., but I cant say that I would not like to see that fight take place. Ruslan has a tested chin, and he simply walks through punches, meaning that he will keep coming at Floyd for the entire 12 rounds.
Bradley’s promoter Bob Arum has ruled out a rematch between the two at least for the time being. Arum does leave open the possibility of matching them up again one of these days in the future, but not until they’ve faced other guys. Arum wants to move Bradley forward and match him three potential opponents: Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez or the winner of the Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado fight.
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By Bill Phanco: WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (29-0, 12 KO’s) will finally get back in the ring to make his first defense of his title against ESPN fighter Ruslan Provodnikov (22-1, 15 KO’s) on March 16th at the Home Depot Center, in Carson, California.
By James Slater – Though some fans were a little turned off by unbeaten pound-for-pounder Timothy Bradley after his hugely controversial points win over superstar Manny Pacquiao – most people referring to the June 2012 split decision as a blatant robbery – the subsequent time spent out of the ring by “Desert Storm” has been unfortunate. Some fans seem to feel Bradley, 29-0(12) should have raised his hands after June 9th last year, and admitted he didn’t really defeat Pac-Man, but of course he didn’t and who can be surprised by this (have you EVER known a winning fighter confess that he didn’t deserve the victory he was awarded)?
But despite the perceived lack of sportsmanship on the part of Bradley, he is too good a fighter to have been out of action for almost a year. The good news is Bradley has an opponent all sorted out; the not so great news is the guy the WBO welterweight champ will defend against on March 16th on HBO. After the “win” over Pacquiao, it was thought the Palm Springs man would get further mega-fights. Instead, Bradley will face crude (but hugely exciting) Russian light-welterweight Ruslan Provodnikov. The 29-year-old (the same age as Bradley) from Beryozovo will move up in weight and go after Bradley’s belt at The Home Depot Centre.