In a classic bout that lived up to it’s billing, Ruslan Provodnikov won the WBO Jr. Welterweight championship when Mike Alvarado did not continue after round ten of a scheduled twelve round bout at the before 7.012 fans at a soldout 1stBank Arena.
The fight was promoted by Top Rank and Banner Promotions and was televised on HBO World Championship boxing.
The two slugged it out from the opening bell with Provodnikov rocking Alvarado in round one. The two fought at a fast pace and traded vicious shots which thrilled the crowd for every second of the fight.
Alvarado tried to box and move to offset the relentless pressure of Provodnikov. In round seven, Provodnikov started to bleed from the nose and later suffered a cut over his right eye. In round eight the fight turned in favor of Provodnikov when he sent Alvarado to canvas on two occasions.
In round nine, a massive swelling formed over the right eye of Alvarado as he continued to absorb punishment from “The Siberian Rocky”.
Provodnikov battered Alvarado at the end of round nine and ten and Alvarado even walked to the wrong corner.
Just before the eleventh round bell, referee Tony Weeks waved the fight off as Alvarado could not continue.
“This is my best dream come true”, said Provodnikov, who was able to realize the monumental moment with his mother sitting ringside.
“I am a champion like Leonard and Duran. To be a world champion, you must take risks and i did that by coming into his hometown. I give Alvarado a lot of credit, he is a real man, a real champion.
Provodnikov was guided in the corner by Marvin Somodio as chief trainer Freddie was in the Philippines with Manny Pacquiao.
“I needed to win this for Freddie. I miss him”
On the conclusion, Provodnikov finished, “I made him not want to fight me anymore.”
Provodnikov of Beryozovo, Russia is now 23-2 with 16 knockouts
By Ryan Bivins
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