A contract has been signed by Mike Alvarado and Ruslan Provodnikov for an October 19 HBO bout from the First Bank Center in Denver, Colorado.
The fight will take place at the junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds. Although both fighters have spent the majority of their careers at that weight, Provodnikov’s last bout against Timothy Bradley took place at the welterweight limit.
Alvarado and Provodnikov are both coming off fan-favorite “Fight of the Year” battles — Alvarado earning a revenge win over Brandon Rios March, and Provodnikov dropping a razor-thin unanimous decision to Bradley that same month.
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Great news for boxing fans, especially those who like blood and guts battles. My early thoughts are this is a case where the “hometown advantage” will work against the local guy. Alvarado has a better jab and lateral movement, meaning he’d be better served to box the Russian. But do we really think that’ll happen, especially after Ruslan connects with his first clean blow? This is Mike’s first big fight in front of his friends and family so his emotions and desire to impress will be very high. I see that being his downfall and Provodnikov ending it around the sixth.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 