I am not joking. Look at the odds before the Provo-Bradley fight - they were staggeringly in favor of Bradley. Read this article where a bunch of so-called experts predict the winner of the Alvarado-Provo fight: they were dead wrong. http://www.badlefthook.com/2013/10/...ov-predictions-picks-and-preview-from-the-blh It's funny that people can look at Provodnikov and can't quite believe what they are seeing. It can be an honest mistake. I made the same mistake with Danny Garcia - I definetly underestimated him. Very seldom do I look at a fighter before he becomes universilly recognized as great and say - "That's a great fighter!" Actually, I've done it only twice: Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao. I did it with Tyson, too - but so did anyone who saw him fight, so that doesn't count as far as I am concerened.
Garcia hasn't beaten anyone to really consider him as an elite fighter. His most impressive win is Khan, but Khan is one of those fighters where a win over him can either show your greatness, or show your luck/stylistic advantage. If someone had outboxed Khan, that would show incredible boxing skills to overcome all of Khans physical advantages. In Garcia's case, he caught Khan with a left hook, thats great and all but all he did was touch on Khans achilles heel, his chin, Prescott has already done it and did it quicker. Then there was 2 fights with Morales, the fact that he needed 2 fights with a shot to pieces few weightclasses above his prime Morales tells me enough. Judah, another shot fighter. He beat Mathysee but Mathysee is another fighter who hasn't really done anything to be considered elite. These guys are B level fighters at best, beating C level fighters beating each other. Provodnikov is good but if Bradley sticks to a gameplan, he could outbox him to a shutout. Very limited fighter.
The question is, for how long will Matthysse's liver and kidneys absorb brutal punishment before his will breaks down.
I' m going for a matthysse win on cuts or face damage Or A provodnikov win by brutal body attack... Argie has a granite chin but can be hurt to the body
I think he has better chin than Garcia who stood up to Lucas' bombs and definetly more power and much, much more killer instinct
this would be a real treat for Boxing fans. i'd take Lucas by KO. Prov does well with fighters who move on the back foot allowing him to go forward. Matthysse doesn't do that, he will be coming forward and shutting down most of the strengths that Prov likes to have on the front foot. total war that can't last past 6. Lucas would win.
What makes you think that? Also Garcia didn't go toe-to-toe. I'm not sure he would have stood up to them if he did. That's very debatable. I'd love to find out though.
Impossible to call. More power for Matthysse, more desire from Provo. Provo's defense has improved a lot under Roach's tutelage. If I were going to give an edge it would probably be to Mattysse only because Provo would come straight at him without taking a backward step. This would play into Mattysse's power. And when you look at Mattysse's record it is pretty stunning. Only 3 losses have been close decisions to very talented, hard to hit boxers and HE FOUGHT THEM IN THEIR BACKYARDS!
Take a look at Provonikov's Record - especially his first 10 fights as a pro. Notice anything strange? He fought fights on 3 Continents by the time he had 9 Fights! That is unheard of! really, look up Mayweather, Paquiao, Mathysse...you name it - they all fight their first fights on the same continent. Think of it...How much does it cost to travel from Russia to the US or China for a fight, and do you think the money he got from those Grade-B fights would even cover the plane fair - much less the training, housing, food, etc... Nope! Provodnikov is obviously someones project and has been sponsored by someone in the past - someone with a lot of money and a good eye for fighters. Provodnikov is not an accident, he is some rich guys long term project.
Fantastic fight I think Matthysse beats almost all come forward fighters due to his combination of defense and chin, I can't see anyone not even Provodnikov out-slugging him. Matthysse loses to slick movers or boxers, of which Provo ain't. Also Provo's chin is good but it hasn't been tested vs top power like Matthysse's has (Matthysse took bombs from Garcia he couldn't see coming and stood up to them). So I would favour Matthysse But of course the real winners would be the fans