Was thinking of this one yesterday. Provodnikov vs Margarito @147

Provodnikov when he let his hands go was a beast, but the problem is he didn't let his hands go often enough. And that cost him in fights vs Algieri, Bradley, where he had both men in big trouble at various points in the fight.

Overall i see Margarito winning a decision based on his superior workrate, both men had great chins so i can't see a stoppage. But it would be a very entertaining fight with Margarito's workrate being the decided edge.

 

Great fight might resemble the provodnikov vs mattysse fight. I just the Antonio is bigger and stronger and has more tools and a better tank

 

Certainly wouldn't be a fight for the feint of heart to watch lol. Neither man's vocabulary included the word quit
I think Tony would eventually wear him down to earn a decision or a late stoppage by the referee. Both men would know they'd been in a fight

 

I've said a few times but do you remember a Welterweight in the 90s called Jose Luis Lopez ? Well Provodnikov kind of reminded me of him although not quite as good. Both were very durable fighters, both floored their most well known opponents multiple times, but both fighters didn't walk away with the W because of their lack of output.

 

Margarito would savage him. I did like Prov years ago did he not give Brandon Rios a beating?

 

Ruslan is already at big disadvantage with his short height, short arms, and aggressive style going up against a taller, bigger, stronger Margarito who was also aggressive and threw tons of punches. Neither guy had good defense and both had cinder block chins so I think it becomes a blood bath brawl.

Margarito is the slightly better overall boxer and beat guys more skilled than Ruslan like Cotto and Martinez. I see the fight being close for the first 4-5 rounds before Margaritos size and workrate become a huge problem for the tiny Ruslan who had leaky defense and could only box one way: aggressive inside fighting. Margarito wins a UD or stops Ruslan late.