Where do you start when a fight has it all?. Defending WBO Welterweight King Tim Bradley showed the kind of guts that make fighters great, In fact there were numerous references to Evander Holyfield and Arturo Gatti as Bradley came through more than a few rough moments to defeat tough guy Ruslan Provodnilov over twelve rounds at the Home Depot Centre in Carson California. Those references made by the HBO team were high praise for Bradley as Holyfield and Gatti were Ultimate warriors in the boxing world. It was those warrior instincts early in the fight then right at the end that secured the victory for Bradley as he admitted that "Provodnikov was the first opponent that has really rocked him". High praise for Provodnikov from a man that has shared the ring with Superstar Manny Pacquiao.
Before the fight had taken place the general conscientious was that Bradley should win quite easy on points. Basically a wide points decision against a guy stepping up from 140 and had not fought at the same level as the champion. The only question on Bradley part was his long lay off (9 months). Well to every body's surprise this fight surpassed expectations as both guys engaged in war that resulted in both guys being beaten up, one of them knocked down and both guys close to being stopped by their own corners.
The War started as early in the first where Bradley came out boxing spearing his jab as the Russian walked forward pressuring the champion. A big right clearly hurt Bradley as both guys went at it. Provodnikov stunned the champion a few more times in the round before late in the Round Provodnikov was unlucky not to be credited with a knockdown as another looping right hurt Bradley and as the champion tried to clinch he fell to the ground. Referee Pat Russell thought it was a slip. The second was a Provodnikov round, maybe even a 10-8 as again he hurt Bradley numerous times. Fights have been stopped for less, a good point made by the HBO team showing the fight in the States. Bradley just couldn't get out of the way of the right hand. Provodnikov's left hook was also causing Bradley mayhem as he was battered to the ropes. The upset looked imminent.
Bradley responded in the third by boxing rings round his Russian opponent who looked passive. Could Provodnikov have punched himself out??. It looked like it as Bradley began to batter the body slowing Provodnikov even more.. For the next two rounds the action was the same with Bradley now fully recovered boxing beautifully, moving well confusing the on rushing Russian. I gave Provodnilov the sixth as a big left hook hurt Bradley again late in the round. Provodnikov went for the kill but found Bradley matching the leather thrown by the Russian. The harder shots though were landed by the Russian. Even fight on my card at this stage 57-57.
The next four rounds saw Bradley use his skills to totally dominate Provodnilov. The Russian was only having sporadic success as Bradley was simply to fast landing at will with the jab then moving to the body hitting Provodnikov with right and left hooks. Provodnikov's trainer during the break has said he was going to stop the fight as his man was taking too much punishment. Bradley's trainer had said the same a few rounds earlier as he recognised his man was hurt but also not following his instructions.
Round eleven was a close one that could have went either way. Both guys started by slugging before Bradley went in his bike picking his shots better again. Provodnikov was having success too as his big right hand was landing again stunning the champion a few times through the round. I scored for Provodnikov as his shots had more effect. The twelfth was a cracker. Bradley was ahead on the cards and began by throwing that jab to keep the Russian away. Mid way through the round the champion walked onto a left hook. Bradley was hurt again but worse was to come as a massive right hand followed by a barrage finally planted Bradley on the deck. There was less than ten seconds left in the round, i bet many were thinking is this another Chavez - Taylor fight where the guy knocked down was ahead in the fight only to be stopped by the referee?. Luckily for Bradley Pat Russell gave the champion the chance to show he was OK by letting Bradley walk forward to prove his legs were fine. They were, the fight ended to huge cheers and the fight went to the judges.
All three judges scored in favour of the champion. It was the probably the right call although the first round should have been a 10-8 Provodnikov round. If the two judges who scored 114-113 for Bradley had taken the extra point away from Bradley then the fight would have been a draw. The other judge scored for Bradley 115-112 for the unanimous decision. A great fight that was unexpected although many press and fans would like to see this one again.
Below is my scorecard along with all the Press and Fan scores i was able to collect for the fight.
Round 1.... 9-10 Provodnikov
Round 2.... 9-10 Provodnikov
Round 3.... 10-9 Bradley
Round 4.... 10-9 Bradley
Round 5.... 10-9 Bradley
Round 6.... 9-10 Provodnikov
Round 7.... 10-9 Bradley
Round 8.... 10-9 Bradley
Round 9.... 10-9 Bradley
Round 10.. 10-9 Bradley
Round 11.. 9-10 Provodnikov
Round 12.. 8-10 Provodnikov..................Provodnikov scored Knockdown
TOTAL : 114-113 Tim Bradley
Judges Scores: Raul Caiz Sr : 115-112 Bradley
Marty Denkin : 114-113 Bradley
Jerry Cantu : 114-113 Bradley
TIM BRADLEY WINS BY UNANIMOUS DECISION
Press and Fan Scores
Scott Christ (BadleftHook) : 114-113 Bradley
Victor Salazar (ThaBoxingVoice) : 114-113 Bradley
Nes (TheBoxingVoice) :115-112 Bradley
Mike Coppinger (USA Today) : 113-113 Draw
Phil D Jay (Worldboxingnews) : 113-113 Draw
Gabriel Montoya (Maxboxing) : 113-113 Draw
Steve Kim (Maxboxing) : 113-113 Draw
ESPN.COM : 113-113 Draw
Boxing Socialist : 114-113 Bradley
Matt Christie (BoxingNews) : 115-114 Bradley
Brian Campbell (ESPN) : 113-113 Draw
Harold Lederman (HBO) : 115-112 Bradley
Dan Rafael (ESPN) : 114-112 Bradley
Steve Zemach (QueensburyRules) : 113-112 Provodnikov
Eric Raskin (Boxingmonthly) : 113-112 Bradley
Al Bernstein (Showtime) : 114-113 Bradley
Cliff Roid (Boxingscene) : 115-112 Bradley
Mark Ortega (Ring TV) : 115-112 Provodnikov
ThaBoxingvoice : 115-112 Bradley
Boxingopinions : 115-113 Bradley
Ryan Bivins (Sweetboxing) : 114-112 Bradley
Kugan Cassius (IFILM London) : 114-112 Bradley
Fightnews.com : 114-113 Bradley
Tim Starks (TheQueensburyRules) : 114-113 Bradley
Michael Woods (The SweetScience) : 113-112 Provodnikov
Ernest Gabion (TheBoxingLab) : 114-113 Provodnikov
Ramon Aranda (3MoreRounds) : 114-113 Provodnikov
Boxing.com : 113-112 Bradley
Billy Ferguson (FightHype) : 114-113 Bradley
Darren Velasco (FightDomain) : 114-113 Bradley
Corey Quincy (Saddoboxing) : 114-113 Bradley
Ryan Burton (The BoxingLab) : 114-113 Bradley
Corey Erdman (RingTV) : 113-112 Bradley
Nigel Collins (ESPN) : 114-112 Provodnikov
Associated Press : 114-113 Bradley
Tim Kudgis (ATG Radio) : 115-112 Bradley
FightGhost : 114-114 Draw
Tris Dixon (BoxingNews) : 114-112 Bradley
Matthew Mojica (TheFightSource) : 113-113 Draw
Alex Morris (Boxingasylum) : 114-113 Provodnikov
BoxingBetPL : 114-113 Bradley
Steve Lillis (Boxnation) : 114-114 Draw
Steve Bunce (Boxnation) : 114-113 Bradley`
Kieran Mulvaney (ESPN) : 114-112 Bradley
Andy Paterson (BoxingAsylum) : 114-113 Bradley
Paul Daley (Topsclassboxing) : 114-113 Bradley
Tom Gray (Ring Magazine) : 115-112 Bradley
The Title Fight : 114-113 Bradley
Lee John Wyle (TheSweetScience) : 115-112 Bradley
Proboxing-fans Jake : 115-112 Bradley
Kevin Mitchell (Observer) : 113-113 Draw
Matty D (BoxingAsylum) : 114-113 Bradley
Than Breeze (Twitter Fan) : 114-112 Provodnikov
Retech Son (Twitter Fan) : 113-113 Draw
Matt Verity (Twitter Fan) : 113-113 Draw
Jrosales13 (Twitter Fan) : 114-113 Bradley
Wolfgang Schiffbauer (Twitter Fan) : 114-113 Bradley
Cole Christensen (Twitter Fan) : 114-113 Bradley
Jack Summers (Twitter Fan) : 114-113 Bradley
Will Backhouse (Twitter Fan) : 113-113 Draw
Simon (Twitter Fan) : 115-112 Bradley
Pavel (Twitter Fan) : 115-112 Bradley
The Boxing Advocat (Twitter Fan) : 114-113 Provodnikov
SaddoBoxing Forum : All For Provodnikov : 114-113 x3 , *113-113 Draw* , **114-113 Bradley**
BoxingAsylum Forum : All For Provodnikov : 114-113x2 , 115-113 , *113-113 Draw*
**114-113 Bradley**
Fighthype Forum : 115-112 Bradley , *113-113 Draw*
Ringnews24 Forum : 115-113 Bradley
DoghouseBoxing Forum : All for Bradley : 114-112 , 113-112 , *113-113 Draw*
Boxrec Forum : All for Bradley : 114-113 x7 , *113-113 Draw*
All for Provodnikov : 115-112 x2 , 114-113
Eastsideboxing Forum : All for Bradley : 114-113 x10 , 115-112 x3 , 114-112 , 116-111
All for Provodnikov : 114-113 x4, 115-113 , 115-112 , 114-112,
Draws *113-113 x2* , *114-114*
Boxingscene Forum : All for Bradley : 114-113 x3, 115-112 *113-113 x4 Draw*
All for Provodnikov : 113-112 x2, 114-113 , 115-112
CheckHookBoxing Forum : All for Bradley : 114-113 x2 , 114-112
TheBoxingPalace Forum : All for Bradley : 114-113 , 114-112
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