There?s no denying that newly-crowned WBO junior welterweight titlist Ruslan Provodnikov proved his worth this past Saturday night after beating former titlist Mike Alvarado into submission inside of the 1STBANK Center in Denver, Colo.
In another tremendous firefight, Provodnikov showed a seemingly unbreakable will and stout power both to the body and head. After ten rounds of punishment and two knockdowns, Alvarado elected to stay on his stool in between rounds, granting the affable Russian with the biggest triumph of his career.
Watching the fight from his bases in Oxnard, Calif., former Alvarado foe Brandon Rios, who split a pair of fights with Mike, seemed at a loss as to how the action played out.
?It was a good fight, man,? Rios stated while hosting a charity event in nearby Westlake Village. ?I don?t know what happened to Alvarado. He came in and he didn?t look as he did with me in the second fight. He didn?t look good. He looked like he was getting hurt with every punch. He looked like he didn?t train right. I don?t know what the f*ck happened.?
At Friday?s weigh-in, Alvarado initially came in a pound over the junior welterweight limit before coming back to weigh 139.8. As he entered the ring to face Provodnikov, he had rehydrated to 157 pounds, according to HBO.
That information points to a fighter who is likely struggling to make weight, yet Rios isn?t so sure.
?It could be the weight issue or it couldn?t, because Alvarado has been like that through his whole career,? Rios explained. ?He?s a warrior. I don?t think it was a weight issue. I don?t know if he didn?t train right.?
Rios was then asked if his two punishing duels with Alvarado may have taken something out of him. Rios stopped Alvarado in the seventh round of their first fight this past October and still got in his licks in during their rematch despite losing a close decision.
?It could have been that,? Rios said. ?Or the last three big fights he had. Prescott [could have] took a lot out of him. And it could be mine and his. Whatever happens, I don?t know. To me, it looked like he didn?t come in shape. He wasn?t quick on his feet like he was with me in the second fight. He didn?t move around; he gassed out quick.?
Rios? final thoughts on Provodnikov?s win were full of respect, as well as a little more bemusement as to how he was actually able to drill Alvarado the way he did.
?It was a great fight, though,? Rios noted. ?He put all the effort. He fought. Provodnikov, whatever the f*ck his name is, that guy can crack. But I think I hit harder than that mother*cker, because I stunned Alvarado. He didn?t really stun him, but the guy just put too much pressure on him. I think I hit harder than that Ruslan guy.?
