Ruslan Provodnikov

Ruslan Provodnikov Руслан Проводников
Statistics
Real name	Ruslan Mikhailovich Provodnikov
Nickname(s)	The Siberian Rocky
Rated at	Welterweight Light welterweight
Height	5 ft 6 in (167.5 cm)
Reach	168 cm (66 in)
Nationality	Russian
Born	(1984-01-20) 20 January 1984 Beryozovo, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Russia)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	29
Wins	25
Wins by KO	18
Losses	4

Ruslan Mikhailovich Provodnikov (Russian: Руслан Михайлович Проводников; born 20 January 1984) is a Russian professional boxer and former WBO junior welterweight champion. Nicknamed "The Siberian Rocky", Provodnikov is a pressure fighter possessing exceptional punching power, stamina, unbreakable will, as well as a granite chin.

Early life

Ruslan Mikhailovich Provodnikov was born in Beryozovo, a small village in western Siberia to an ethnic Russian father and an ethnic Mansi mother, but identifies himself as Mansi. He would regularly make a 1-day trip to train at a gym that was something closer to what a professional boxing gym should be. As an amateur he won 130 of 150 fights. He was discovered in Ekaterinburg by his current promoters and managers, who brought him to the U.S.

Professional career

Early career

Provodnikov fought several times on ESPN 2's Friday Night Fights and developed a reputation for being an exciting, come forward, pressure fighter. He scored a decision win over Demarcus Corley and lost a controversial decision to Mauricio Herrera.

Provodnikov vs. Bradley

Provodnikov lost a close unanimous decision to Timothy Bradley on March 16, 2013, for the WBO welterweight championship. Provodnikov was considered an easily beatable opponent for Bradley, who was looking for a confidence booster after beating Manny Pacquiao in what was deemed one of boxing's worst decisions. Bradley came out on the attack early, fighting in an uncharacteristically aggressive fashion. Provodnikov made him pay, however, tagging him with hard shots in the first round, and staggering him in the second. Bradley said after the fight that he was concussed by a shot Provodnikov hit him with in the second round. Bradley boxed more conservatively as the fight wore on, winning most of the middle rounds. In the last round, Provodnikov badly hurt Bradley again but Bradley took a knee with just seconds remaining, beating the count and hanging on to win the fight on points. Bradley was impressed by Provodnikov's power and will, saying "he's going to be a world champion someday". The fight was named "2013 Fight of the Year" by Ring Magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Provodnikov vs. Alvarado

Moving back down to junior welterweight to fight Mike Alvarado for the WBO Junior welterweight belt. Provodnikov defeated Mike Alvarado by 10th-round stoppage on October 19, 2013, at the FirstBank Center in Denver, Colorado. Provodnikov was ahead on all three scorecards and had knocked Alvarado down twice in the eighth round. Alvarado then elected to not come out for the eleventh round.

Provodnikov vs. Algieri

Provodnikov faced little-known American Chris Algieri in the first defense of his title on June 14, 2014, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Provodnikov connected with a left hook in the first round that knocked Algieri down and formed a large swelling under the challenger's right eye. Despite scoring two knockdowns in the opening frame, Algieri's footwork and boxing skills prevented Provodnikov from getting into range to land his shots. Provodnikov would go on to lose a controversial split decision.

Provodnikov vs. Matthysse

After dispatching of veteran Jose Luis Castillo in five rounds, in his home country. Negotiations began for a bout with fellow power puncher, Argentine Lucas Matthysse, there was a large amount of hype surrounding the fight coming in. It took place at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York on the 18th of April, and lived up to the hype as the two fighters went toe to toe from the opening bell in a fight of the year candidate. A headbutt caused a deep cut above Ruslan's left eye early in the fight and it begun to distract him straight away. Matthysse utilized his jab and superior boxing skills for most of the bout. Ruslan once again proved to have a granite chin as he took the hardest shots of Matthysse, who is considered to be the hardest puncher in the division and pound for pound one of the hardest punchers in the world. After being outboxed the first few rounds, Ruslan came back in the latter half of the bout, and begun to break down Matthysse, hurting him severely in the 11th round but failed to capitalize, or achieve enough early on and went on to lose a Majority decision. Matthysse broke his right hand in the fight. Provodnikov had a terribly swollen face afterwards, and a deep gash on his eye from the headbutt, he also had black urine (rhabdomyolysis), a result of being hit in his kidneys by the power puncher Matthysse.

Professional boxing record

29 fights, 25 wins (18 knockouts), 4 losses
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Rd., Time	Date	Location	Notes
N/A	N/A	John Molina, Jr.	N/A	- (12)	2016-06-11	Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York
Win	25–4	Jesus Alvarez Rodriguez	TKO	4 (10), 1:40	2015-11-07	Salle des Etoiles, Monte Carlo
Loss	24–4	Lucas Matthysse	MD	12	2015-04-18	Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York	Nominated for The Ring magazine 2015 Fight of the Year
Win	24–3	José Luis Castillo	TKO	5 (12), 0:50	2014-11-28	Luzhniki, Moscow
Loss	23–3	Chris Algieri	SD	12	2014-06-14	Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York	Lost WBO junior-welterweight title The Ring magazine 2014 Upset of the Year
Win	23–2	Mike Alvarado	RTD	10 (12), 3:00	2013-10-19	1stBank Center, Broomfield, Colorado	Won WBO junior-welterweight title
Loss	22–2	Timothy Bradley	UD	12	2013-03-16	Home Depot Center, Carson, California	For WBO welterweight title The Ring magazine 2013 Fight of the Year
Win	22–1	Jose Reynoso	KO	2 (10), 1:52	2012-06-29	Omega Products International, Corona, California	Retained WBO Inter-Continental junior-welterweight title
Win	21–1	David Torres	TKO	6 (10), 2:53	2012-01-27	Northern Quest Casino, Airway Heights, Washington	Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental junior-welterweight title
Win	20–1	DeMarcus Corley	UD	12	2011-12-05	DIVS, Yekaterinburg	Won vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council super lightweight title
Win	19–1	Iván Popoca	KO	8 (10), 2:16	2011-04-15	Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California
Win	18–1	Vyacheslav Yakovenko	TKO	3 (6), 2:43	2011-02-20	Viktoria, Berezovo
Loss	17–1	Mauricio Herrera	UD	12	2011-01-07	Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada	For vacant IBF North American junior welterweight title
Win	17–0	Fayzullo Ahmedov	UD	6	2010-10-16	Trading-Entertaining Center "Alatyr", Yekaterinburg
Win	16–0	Emanuel Augustus	TKO	9 (10), 1:50	2010-05-21	Laredo Energy Arena, Laredo, Texas
Win	15–0	Javier Jauregui	TKO	8 (10), 2:10	2010-02-12	Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California
Win	14–0	Victor Hugo Castro	KO	2 (12), 0:30	2009-11-28	CSKA VVS Arena, Samara	Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental junior-welterweight title
Win	13–0	Mahsud Jumaev	RTD	2 (6), 3:00	2009-10-24	Sverdlovsk Film Studio, Yekaterinburg
Win	12–0	Esteban Almaraz	UD	6	2009-03-20	Laredo Entertainment Center, Laredo, Texas
Win	11–0	Abdulaziz Matazimov	UD	6	2009-02-21	Tennis Centre, Khanty-Mansiysk
Win	10–0	Sergey Starkov	UD	10	2008-11-03	Beryozovo
Win	9–0	Wang Jie	TKO	3 (8)	2008-08-22	Olympic Village, Beijing
Win	8–0	Brian Gordon	UD	6	2008-05-16	Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	7–0	Jose Angel Roman	TKO	1 (6), 2:28	2008-03-07	Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut
Win	6–0	Vadim Sufiyanov	KO	3 (6), 1:07	2008-01-31	Casino Vodoley, Yekaterinburg
Win	5–0	Darren Darby	TKO	1 (4), 2:12	2007-09-16	Northern Quest Casino, Airway Heights, Washington
Win	4–0	Willie Diamond	TKO	1 (4), 1:46	2007-06-23	Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	3–0	Antwon Barrett	KO	1 (4), 2:33	2007-04-28	Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut
Win	2–0	Dmitry Toropchin	RTD	2 (4), 3:00	2007-02-01	Casino Vodoley, Yekaterinburg
Win	1–0	Kirill Artemiev	UD	4	2006-12-03	DIVS, Yekaterinburg	Professional debut

External links

• Professional boxing record for Ruslan Provodnikov from BoxRec
• Ruslan Provodnikov on Twitter

Achievements
Preceded by Mike Alvarado	WBO super lightweight champion October 19, 2013 - June 16, 2014	Succeeded by Chris Algieri