Who's your new favorite boxer? Ruslan Provodnikov. He's a beast when he rains in heavy clubbing punches. :happy I'm a fan!! He has some skills. He does enough to be considered a solid operator. :good Almost beat Timitee Bradley!! :deal
Ah, the fickleness of boxing fans. Just a few months ago, most (I'm not saying you specifically, Pipo, but most everyone) had written Provodnikov off as being an ESPN-level clubber. Then a world title opportunity falls into his lap - about which there was much grumbling, accusations of Bradley being a cherry picker making a soft touch defense etc. - and he makes the most of it and suddenly it's forgotten that Provodnikov was called a B- or C+ fighter until then. (or at least, from the Herrera loss until then - because fans are fickle that way, too...once a prospect loses, he is 'exposed' and dead to them unless he can resurrect himself with some miracle like Provodnikov had in landing the Bradley date and then nearly pulling it off)
Even though Bradley was rushed in an ambulance to hospital after the fight. The ref missing clear knock downs, and Bradley looking like Bambi on ice half the fight. The Bob Arum bought and paid for American judges say Bradley won, so we just need to ignore all that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G09f506WxHo
I always support Slavic fighters, but it did look like Ruslan pushed him down a little bit. It was a close fight and I am okay with the decision. Provodnikov's face did not look pretty after the fight.