Ruslan Provodnikov breaks Alvarado’s will!

1st Bank Center, Broomfield, CO – Mile High’s own, Mike Alvarado, could not make good for the hometown crowd last night against the powerful and determined Siberian Rocky. Ruslan Provodnikov stalked Alvarado the entire fight smashing him with devastating body shots and left hooks. After the fight, Alvarado with his face battered and right eye swollen and closing, indicated Provodnikov’s punches were the hardest he has ever experienced. Consequently, in the end, it was Provodnikov’s commitment to attack the body with those shots that did Alvarado in.

The fight was very even going into the eighth round, when Provodnikov finally broke Alvarado down, forcing him into the ropes and to take a knee, not once but twice. When it was all said and done, my inclination to think Alvarado was not in top shape for the bout came to reality Alvarado, who has been known to come back from adversity in fights and show his warrior spirit, time and time again, could not answer the bell for the eleventh round. When referee Tony Weeks asked if he could go on, Alvarado did not respond and the fight was stopped in the corner.

At the time of the stoppage, Alvarado was down on all three judges scorecards which shows his corner was correct earlier in the fight indicating to their fighter he needed a knockout to win. To me it just did not seem he could get his punches off like he has in past fights when he was in the pocket with Provodnikov. He was using a lot of lateral movement during the fight and switching from traditional to southpaw stance and occasionally brawling which contrary to this fight is his custom. His corner after the fight felt he listened to too much media about him being a better boxer after the Rios fight and unfortunately may have cost himself by not brawling as we have seen in the past.

Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KO’s) now moves into a great position for big fights against a number of guys in the junior welterweight and welterweight divisions. My guess is it will be a rematch with either Timothy Bradley or Mike Alvarado, or the winner of the Pacquiao vs. Rios fight next month. That may be the least likely matchup if Pacquiao wins given they both share Freddie Roach as a trainer. Regardless, with the impressive victory over one of boxing’s most exciting fighters, Provodnikov becomes a new fan favorite and must see anytime he steps into the ring. He is vicious and can’t be ignored.

For Alvarado (34-2, 23 KO’s), he will have to heal up and see where to go from here. It was a huge let down for him and he was very upset after the fight. He would have been in line for a big money fight with a victory; subsequently, he will continue to be one of boxing fans’ favorite fighters. It did not go his way this time and he may need to consider moving up in weight after the difficulty making the limit for this one.

It may not have been what the hometown crowd had hoped for, but it was a great and exciting fight. Subsequently, the hype and noise level as Alvarado entered the ring was deafening and as loud or louder than I have ever heard. That said, you have not seen or heard the last of Alvarado, and his fans will follow for whatever is next for Mr. 303.

In the undercard lightweight bout, Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz made good in a unanimous decision over local fighter Juan Santiago. Diaz had taken time off from boxing to make it in law school and then in business, but those things did not pan out, so he has returned to the ring. I felt he pitched a shutout as did one other judge at ringside, although Santiago did show a lot of heart taking a lot of hard shots but refusing to go down or quit. Diaz improves to 38-4 to start his comeback.

I hate to say I told you so to the local fans in this one, but I felt very concerned for Alvarado in the weeks leading up to the fight and particularly after the weigh-ins. It’s not to say I did not feel a little heartbreak myself, but I have to give it up for Provodnikov. Hey, at least Denver still has the Broncos. Until next time. Alvarado still fought like a warrior.