Nobody cared about this combat; critically, nobody. A truth confirmed by pictures of the stands on the Residence Depot Heart between rounds on HBO, which revealed row upon row of empty seats. And whereas one might be forgiven for pondering an official win over Manny Pacquiao would translate into ticket gross sales, the reality is that, rightly or wrongly, Timothy Bradley had acquired virtually zero credit score for his twelve spherical cut up determination victory over “The Pacman,” as few may take the judges’ verdict critically. Bradley’s subsequent incapacity to be gracious in regards to the bogus win additionally did nothing to endear him to combat followers.
In the meantime, Ruslan Provodnikov was a whole unknown besides to hardcore combat freaks making be aware of his victories over Emanuel Augustus and DeMarcus Corley. In any other case, this was seen as a tune-up for Bradley as he sought to get himself again in rivalry for some main paydays. Most anticipated one other ho-hum “Desert Storm” combat together with his superior athletic expertise permitting him to cruise to a call win. The competition was additional assured minimal hype and curiosity by its being scheduled on the identical evening as a significant UFC occasion, Georges St-Pierre vs Nick Diaz. One puzzled if the individuals at Prime Rank had been as uninspired by this match-up as most boxing followers.
However, as many famous afterwards, any followers who blew off Bradley vs Provodnikov to look at St-Pierre do his factor had been little doubt regretting their determination the following morning. All low expectations had been overturned, and quick, as the 2 welterweights collided on the opening bell like a pair of runaway trains, each males slinging hellacious pictures proper from the beginning. The extra highly effective Russian challenger obtained the most effective of it as he floored Bradley with a thudding proper hand, however by some means referee Pat Russell blew the decision and dominated what was clearly a clear knockdown a slip. Clearly damage, Bradley absorbed a horrible pounding for a lot of spherical one, and the beating continued within the second as Provodnikov’s energy pictures despatched the champion staggering everywhere in the ring.
Displaying astonishing grit, Bradley got here again within the third, asserting himself behind flurries of sharp punches. Forwards and backwards it went, with Bradley touchdown extra, and at occasions clearly out-boxing the challenger, whereas Provodnikov by no means stopped stalking and firing again when he may. He damage “Desert Storm” badly within the sixth and eleventh rounds, and at last scored a knockdown within the closing seconds of the combat, however actually “The Siberian Rocky” certainly ‘rocked’ Bradley at quite a few factors. It was a grueling and violent wrestle that took a lot out of each males.
An in depth determination hinged on whether or not or not rounds one and two had been deemed two level stanzas, in addition to how a lot credit score one selected to offer Bradley for his increased punch output. Some thought Provodnikov deserved the nod, however most agreed with the judges for whom Bradley did simply sufficient to drag it out. Nonetheless, had the referee obtained the decision proper on the primary spherical knockdown, the official end result would have been a draw which, all issues thought-about, may need been the fairest of outcomes.
By way of sheer carnage, this was a warfare for the ages, one which went on to be on the prime of most “Combat of the Yr” lists for 2013. Under no circumstances shocking contemplating that one had to return to Diego Corrales vs Jose Luis Castillo, or Micky Ward vs Arturo Gatti, to seek out related high-drama showdowns the place each boxers absorbed alarming quantities of punishment. At combat’s finish Provodnikov’s face appeared like somebody had tried to place it by means of a meat grinder, whereas Bradley candidly informed HBO interviewer Max Kellerman he was undoubtedly concussed. After the choice had been introduced, the champion was nonetheless so dazed he couldn’t even mount the ropes to have a good time, aborting his effort the second he obtained his ft off the canvas.
![Bradley vs Provodnikov](https://i0.wp.com/www.thefightcity.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/bradley-and-provo-after-the-fight.jpg?resize=510%2C354&ssl=1)
As Bob Arum said after the bout, there have been, in reality, no losers after this sort of thrilling slugfest, because the inventory of each fighters went up dramatically after such a titanic wrestle. Wanting profitable, the result for Provodnikov was pretty much as good as anybody may have hoped, together with his thrilling, crowd-pleasing type placing him in line for Mike Alvarado and Lucas Matthysse. In the meantime, Bradley’s grit and coronary heart may by no means be questioned once more and his inspiring efficiency allowed him to lastly depart behind the fallout from the Pacquiao debacle and later accumulate big paydays in his subsequent rematches with the Filipino legend. Tellingly, a rematch with the iron-fisted Russian who got here so near derailing Bradley’s profession by no means got here near fruition. –Neil Crane