1STBANK Center, Broomfield, Denver, Colorado – Ruslan Provodnikov (23-2, 16KOs) finally got that career defining victory with a tenth round stoppage of Mike Alvarado (34-2, 23KOs) to capture the WBO junior welterweight championship.
Provodnikov came out with a lot of pressure, cut off the ring and forced Alvarado right into a battle of power punches, and Provodnikov appeared to have the edge. Alvarado started moving in the second, using a lot of energy but sticking and moving to keep Provodnikov at bay. Alvarado continued the same strategy in the second. During the third, Provodnikov came back with a huge rally of punches in the final minute. And Provodnikov continued a good power punch edge in the fifth and Alvarado outworked him in the sixth. Provodnikov with a strong rally to end the seventh, but suffered a cut around his right eye. And Alvarado’s right eye was swelling up bad from the action.
Provodnikov rallied with a big barrage of punches in the eight to drop Alvarado in the second minute. Provodnikov continued to drop huge combinations to drop Alvarado for a second time. The end appeared to be near, but Alvarado managed to fight his way back out of trouble. Provodnikov controlled the ninth and Alvarado was nearly taken out once again in the tenth when Provodnikov battered him bad in the final minute.
Alvarado, who had very little left, was not allowed to come out for the eleventh round by his corner.
