Likely classic: Mike Alvarado-Ruslan Provodnikov bout a done deal
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A fight fan’s fight is coming Oct. 19, with promoters announcing this week that junior-welterweight Mike Alvarado will meet Ruslan Provodnikov on Oct. 19 outside Denver in an HBO-televised bout.
Alvarado (34-1, 23 knockouts) and Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KOs) have separately been involved in three of boxing’s most enthralling events within the last calendar year, two of the slugfests taking place at the now-named Stub Hub Center in Carson.
It was there, in October 2012, that Alvarado suffered his only loss -- by technical knockout in the seventh round of an all-action battle against Oxnard’s Brandon Rios.
Alvarado avenged that defeat in another classic match with Rios on March 30 in Las Vegas.
The pair appeared headed for a rubber match until Manny Pacquiao needed an opponent for November, and Rios emerged.
That brought talk about Alvarado’s next opponent to Provodnikov, whose March 16 epic against unbeaten Timothy Bradley is a strong contender for fight of the year.
While Bradley won that fight by a close decision with more activity, Provodnikov unleashed power punches that nearly dropped Bradley twice he before fell the world welterweight champion in the 12th.
The brawler earned deep respect from those who saw that Carson bout, leaving fans wanting more.
Alvarado-Provodnikov will be fought at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Colo. Denver is Alvarado’s hometown.
Provodnikov will open training in Hollywood next week with famed trainer Freddie Roach.
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