PHILADELPHIA (March 18, 2013)— Banner Promotions congratulates Ruslan Provodnikov for a great fight and living up to all of our expectations last Saturday night when he took on WBO Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley on HBO World Championship Boxing.

The bout, which took place in Carson, California, was a thrilling battle for Provodnikov as he rocked and hurt the undefeated champion repeatedly and was controversially denied knockdowns in each of the first two rounds and was able to send Bradley to the canvas late in the twelfth round for which Bradley barely beat referee Pat Russell’s count.

The “Fight of the Year candidate” produced many toe to toe exchanges that brought the crowd at the Home Depot Center to the edge of their seats throughout the contest.

“Ruslan became a big star on Saturday night”, said Arthur Pelullo, CEO of Banner Promotions. There were a lot of critics when this fight was made. That it was a mismatch and Ruslan didn’t belong in the ring with Bradley. I told everybody that they had no idea what this kid is made of. Yet HBO, to their credit, held steadfast and went forward with the fight. We thank them for that.”

“When Bob Arum saw Ruslan in the gym as the chief sparring partner of Manny Pacquiao for the Pacquiao-Bradley fight, he called me to tell me that this kid is something special. He knew that Ruslan had a future on HBO.”

“Ruslan established himself as one of the major players in both the Jr. Welterweight and Welterweight divisions. I started receiving calls and text messages as early as the 2nd round and all the major networks have already called with projected fights for Ruslan”.

“Ruslan has many options for future big fights. We will be able to map out what he will do with his team led by his manager Vadim Kornilov in the near future”.

“Once again, we want to thank Ruslan for such a great performance and continuing to give boxing fans a thrilling show every time he enters the ring.”

American welterweight Timothy Bradley was knocked-out at 2:33 of round 1 by Russian Ruslan Provodnikov, Saturday at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Bradley began a right cross at the moment Provodnikov did, and while Bradley’s grazed harmlessly past, Provodnikov’s struck flush. Bradley buckled, fell forward, clutched Provodnikov round the yellow letters on the seat of his trunks, then fell to his knees and black gloves. Bradley rose, backpedaled, fell, rolled over, and rose again with the lunatic smile a man wears when no signal his brain sends down the spinal cord is obeyed by his lower body.

If consciousness is an awareness by the mind of itself and the world, Bradley was not conscious for most of the 33 minutes of fighting that followed. But in what variable moments of consciousness he experienced, Bradley sent communiques enough to the learned muscles of his body to decision Provodnikov by unanimous scores of 114-113, 114-113 and 115-112 and retain the WBO welterweight belt he took from Manny Pacquiao in June. Treated to valorous a display as an athlete can make, the sparse Home Depot Center crowd booed loudly the judges’ deciding in favor of the champion.

And there was Timothy Bradley, bouncing in his corner before the decision, trying to make a spirited sight of his readiness and fitness, showing Provodnikov he was not tired but anxious to come out and make war in the final round, except that the final round had come and gone minutes before, and Bradley seemed to have no idea of it. He was not in his right mind. If you told Bradley on Sunday morning he fought valiantly, did his level best, but finally got knocked-out by a well-fisted Russian who wore him to a nub at the end, Bradley would have had to go find his belt, if he even remembered where he put it, to be sure you were wrong.

Bradley is frailer than his detractors know. In 2011, I spoke with him in the Southwest hangar of the Detroit Metro Airport seven hours after he beat Devon Alexander, and the first thought I had as he shuffled anonymously along the gleaming tile hallway, taking tiny steps, no entourage in tow, his left eye shuttered, his face small and dark, was: “God, he looks fragile.”

The same could be said of him as he sat in a wheelchair beneath the MGM Grand dais last year after going more rounds with Manny Pacquiao than Oscar De La Hoya did, or Ricky Hatton did, or Miguel Cotto did – this must not be forgotten – and after the greatest moment of his career, one an entire industry then conspired ghoulishly to snatch from him. The same could be said of Bradley on Saturday night as he stood wideyed and confused, genuineness and goodness still shining through concussion’s miasma, and admitted he did not recall what he said three seconds before.

Timothy Bradley gives more than he has to every fight; he is ill-equipped for the combat he makes. He is a man with one knockout victory in six years who went for the knockout repeatedly, Saturday, against an opponent who’d rendered him senseless in their first three minutes together. Ruslan Provodnikov showed Bradley’s large flaws: He does not move his head until he is on an opponent’s chest, his balance is often not good as he believes, and his power at welterweight is a fraction his confidence in it. Bradley fights rather like what he is: a man whose teachers believed conditioning was more important than defense.

In the final 15 seconds of round 6, Bradley and Provodnikov threw 56 punches at one another, in as feral a display of desire and conditioning as can be seen in a prizefighting ring. Provodnikov threw many of his punches head-down and landed many more than Bradley did, head-up. Bradley needed to see Provodnikov to punch him, and that was difficult with his eyes scattering like brown marbles in sockets of polished obsidian. Provodnikov knew without having to look where Bradley’s chin would be, which allowed him, at various remarkable moments Saturday, to move his head well out of Bradley’s range as he put his wonderfully leveraged right fist in the geometrical center of Bradley’s face.

But promoter Top Rank is not yet rid of its Bradley problem, and Bradley’s flowering resentment, and how history will judge its catalyst, is to be a problem indeed. When Bradley went down in the final seconds of round 1 then got up, fell backwards, and landed on his shoulder at an angle obtuse enough to separate it, I thought of what Top Rank’s peerless matchmaker once said after an early undercard match when a local favorite got dropped by an unknown: “Nothing surprises me.” Provodnikov did exactly what was expected of him, and if he did not permanently alter the trajectory of Bradley’s career, Saturday, he likely will in the rematch Bradley will have to make long before he is given the payday he was promised if he beat Pacquiao, which he did.

We booed Bradley afterwards, again, in his home state this time, despite his making combat for a half hour his brain was too scrambled to record – booed him because three professional judges agreed he won another close fight. Bradley may forgive us, though he should not, but he will not forget, and he should not. He is a greater man than he is a fighter, and he deserves better judges than what we are.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

Follow all the action live from Ringside at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California as Timothy Bradley defends the WBO Welterweight championship against rugged Russian Ruslan Provodnikov. The action begins at 10:15 est / 7:15 pm pac with a battle of undefeated Welterweight Jesse Vargas and Wale Omotoso

12 ROUNDS–WBO WELTERWEIGHT TITLE–TIMOTHY BRADLEY (29-0, 12 KO’S) VS RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV (22-1, 15 KO’S)

Round 1 Right from Bradley…quick combo..A war breaks out…Bradley down but ruled a slip…Bradley is hurt...10-9 Provodnikov

Round 2 Hard combo from Bradley..Brasdley eats a hige right..toe to toe…Huge shots by Ruslan..Bradley badly wobbled../..20-18 Provodnikov

Round 3 Hard combo by Bradley..JAB..good combo..Hard combo..29-28 Bradley

Round 4 Big counter right from RP…Big right to body from Bradley…3 punch combo…2 bigs lefts and a right from RP…3 punch combo from Bradley…Big right..right from Ruslan..right…38-38

Round 5 3 jabss from Bradley..Big right and left..This is a war with Bradley landing ripping combos…48-47 Bradley

Round 6 Bradley lands a right to the head…right and left..combos…combis hurts Bradley… unbelievable action to end the round...57-57

Round 7 Good overhand right from RP..67-66 RP

Round 8 Bradley jabbing and moving..short right from Provodnikov…3 punch combo from Bradley...76-76

Round 9 hard 1-2 from Bradley..Bradley boxing well..ripping right..Bradley hitting RP with everything ..great chin from RP...86-85 Bradley

Round 10 Bradley boxing but missing..RP lands a hard right..Jab from Bradley…over hnd right from RP…left from RP drives Bradley back…95-95

Round 11 Hard jab from RP..left inside..RO lands 3 hard shots..hard righ..;eft,,,105-104 RP

Round 12 toe to toe action..BIG COMBO DROPS BRADLEY…115-112 RP

115-112, 115-112 and 114-113 FOR WINNER AND STILL CHAMPION TIMOTHY BRADLEY

10 ROUNDS–WELTERWEIGHTS–JESSE VARGAS (21-0, 9 KO’S) VS WALE OMOTOSO (23-0, 19 KO’S)

Round 1 Good action ..Right from Omotoso…right over the top…Jab from Vargas…Left..Right from Omotoso..god right…10-9 Omotoso

Round 2 Good right from Omotoso…Jab from Vargas..Combo from Omotoso on the ropes…Vargas jabbing..LEFT TO THE BODY AND RULED A KNOCKDOWN FOR OMOTOSO…Jab from Vargas..left hook…trading right hands..20-17 Omotoso

Round 3 Omotoso gets in a right..Vargas lands a jab..Left from Omotoso..right..ight drives Omotoso to the ropes …30-26 Omotoso

Round 4 Vargas gets in a jab..Vargas lands a combo…great Acton in the corner..39-36 Omotoso

Round 5 Omotoso lands a ;eft…Vargas fire back with a right…Big right rocks Omotoso..hes hurt…Vargas laying it on…Omotoso showing a great chin…big round for Vargas…48-46 Omotoso

Round 6 Omotoso gets in a hard left…Vargas jabs to the body…Good jab from Omotoso..58-55 Omotoso

Round 7 Jab from Omotoso..Left from Vargas…Vargas gets in a overhand right..Vargas flurries..left…Good left hook..67-65 Omotoso

Round 8 Right from Vargas…overhand right..inside right..right from Omotoso…76-75 Omotoso

Round 9 Left from Omotoso…Right from Vargas..Uppercut from Vargas..85-85

Round 10 Omotoso lands a 1-2…overhand right…uppercut…counter uppercut..Vargas lands a 1-2…left..95-94 Omotoso

97-92, 96-93, 96-93 FOR VARGAS

CARSON, CALIFORNIA – Timothy Bradley Jr. was taken to the limit over twelve rounds by Ruslan Provodnikov in the HBO-televised main event at the Home Depot Center on Saturday night, but managed to escape with his WBO 147-pound title in tact with a debatable twelve-round unanimous decision.

Bradley and Provodnikov wasted no time, opting to stand and trade shortly after the opening bell. In the midst of an exchange, Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KOs) of Beryozovo, Yugra, Russia beat Bradley (30-0, 12 KOs) of Palm Springs, California to the punch with a short right hand. The punch downed Bradley, but referee Pat Russell ruled the fall a slip. Bradley began to pop back up, but fell back down again, a clear sign that he was legitimately hurt.

The second round picked up where the first round left off, as the two engaged in more wild exchanges. Bradley, still feeling the effects of the first round, was getting the worse of it as one combination sent him into the ropes, nearly scoring a knockdown again.

The fight took a turn in the third, as Provodnikov punched himself out after his incredible output in the first two rounds. Bradley wisely fell back on his jab and took the third by keeping the drained Provodnikov off balance at arms length. Bradley continued to potshot at range, effectively sewing up the fourth to miraculously even up the fight after four.

Bradley was drawn back into some wild exchanging in the fifth, but did so a bit more intelligently and cautiously. The balance worked as Bradley clearly claimed his third round in a row after being taken to the brink of a stoppage.

The fight took another turn in the sixth. After Bradley boxed well enough for two-and-one-half minutes, Provodnikov came out of nowhere and cleaned Bradley’s clock again with a left hand. Bradley moved from one corner to the ropes on the other side of the ring, but Provodnikov followed him, throwing every step of the way. Bradley fought back, but it just gave the challenger more openings to exploit as the bell sounded.

Both fighters took off the seventh round, which all three official scorers would give to Bradley. The champion boxed just enough to take round eight as well to somewhat sneakily move ahead in the fight 77-75 on all three cards.

Provodnikov was able to sucker Bradley back into firefight in spurts during the ninth, but champion did not cave in and swing for the fences like in the opening two rounds. Feeling confident after a solid ninth, Bradley was flashy with his combinations in the tenth, but did not commit to his punches like earlier in the fight. Though he landed less, this writer felt Provodnikov edged the tenth with his few power shots. However all three official scorers wound up giving the round to Bradley.

With the fight slipping away, Provodnikov came on again in the eleventh, clearly landing the more effective blows. Bradley spent too much time circling and moving, while Provodnikov landed clean blows. Though it looked to be a clear Provodnikov round, official scorer Raul Caiz Sr. would end up giving the eleventh to Bradley.

Reportedly told by his trainer Freddie Roach he needed a knockout to win, Provodnikov aimed to do just that as he came out for the twelfth and final round. As was the case nearly every time Provodnikov had Bradley in the trouble, the damage would came in the last half minute of the twelfth. After a sustained barrage, Provodnikov would finally down Bradley with a short right hand. Obviously hurt, Bradley managed to get out of the round and force the fight to the cards. Judges Jerry Cantu and Marty Denkin handed in cards of 114-113 for Bradley, while Caiz Sr. had it a puzzling 115-112 for the champion.

Boos would drown out the cheers for Bradley as the decision was read before the Home Depot Center crowd, a response the champion did not deserve after such a valiant battle. Bradley’s quest for respect was a hot topic heading into Saturday’s contest, given the fashion in which he attained victory over Manny Pacquiao last year. Unfortunately for Bradley, it appears that quest continues after another hard-fought, but controversial victory

In a battle of unbeatens, Jessie Vargas (22-0, 9 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada came away with a wider than deserved unanimous decision over Wale Omotoso (23-1, 19 KOs) of Hollywood, California by way of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria in the televised co-feature.

After a methodical first round, Omotoso, 146.8, began to find his openings with great frequency in round two. Vargas, 146.6, decided to fight fire with fire much to his detriment in round three. After a solid exchange, a borderline body shot dropped Vargas early in the stanza. Vargas came back firing, but it was Omotoso that look better in the exchanges.

As the fight moved to the fourth, Vargas and “Lucky Boy” continued to exchange, but it was Omotoso that was landing the cleaner, harder shots. Although Omotoso was wide with many of his swings, he continued to catch Vargas on the end of many telling blows. However, by the end of the fourth, Vargas sprang to life, which led into the fifth, unquestionably his best round.

Vargas caught Omotoso early in the fifth with a solid right. “Lucky Boy” mocked Vargas with a dance, but another right followed which clearly stunned Omotoso. Vargas saw the change and pounced on his foe. Vargas landed as Omotoso retreated to different corners of the ring, before finally running out of gas as the round came to an end.

The fight climaxed in the fifth, as the pace dropped of dramatically beginning in the sixth.
Vargas may have held a slight edge in two or three of the following three rounds, but there was little to choose from as the output of both sank. Omotoso came on again to start the tenth. Vargas attempted to stem the tide, but really had little on his punches as the fight winded down.

In a fight that could reasonably have gone either way by a point or two, Vargas was awarded the bout by the shockingly wide scores of 97-92 and 96-93 twice. With the win, the WBA #5/WBC #9/IBF #15 ranked Vargas claimed the minor WBC Continental Americas Welterweight title while likely improving upon his world rankings.

In the last bout before HBO went on the air, Oscar Valdez (3-0, 3 KOs) of Tucson, Arizona by way of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico stopped tough as nails Carlos Iguera Gonzalez (1-3) of Los Angeles, California with a series of unanswered blows.

The durable Iguera Gonzalez, 128, had been beaten twice before, but never beaten down the way he was by the former amateur star Valdez, 128, at the Home Depot Center tonight. Valdez punished him from round one, getting the better of every exchange. Finally in the third a wicked left hook slumped Iguera Gonzalez against the ropes, with the ensuing combination forcing referee Tony Crebs hand. Time of the stoppage was 58 seconds of round four.

Fast-handed heavyweight Andy Ruiz Jr. (18-0, 12 KOs) of Imperial, California by way of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico downed Midwest journeyman Matthew Greer (15-10, 13 KOs) of Saint Louis, Missouri three times in the first to force a mandatory stoppage.

Ruiz, 246, attacked the large body of Greer, 240, which created the opening for a right high on the head for the first knockdown. Soon after action resumed, Ruiz landed a left to the body that put down Greer for the second time. Greer continued to fade as a light shove forced him down and ate some time from the clock, but not enough. Another cuffing right high on the head, dropped Greer for the third and final time, prompting referee Jack Reiss to wave off the bout at 2:53 of the first.

Emerging local prospect Gabino Saenz (9-0-1, 7 KOs) of Indio, California excited his Southern California fan base with a horrific second-round stoppage of Cesar Valenzuela (3-2-1, 1 KO) of Phoenix, Arizona.

After a rough-and-tumble first, Saenz, 126, came out determined in the second round, eventually landing a left that rocked Valenzuela, 125. The Arizona resident attempted to hold on and regain his legs, but found himself on the canvas from a Saenz flurry capped by an overhand right. Shortly after action resumed, Saenz uncorked a short right that sent Valenzuela’s jaw one way and his body the other. Referee Tony Crebs immediately waved it off at 2:02 of round two. Thankfully Valenzuela was able to leave the ring under his own power.

In a brutal shocker, journeyman southpaw Victor Sanchez (4-5-1, 1 KO) of Houston, Texas starched one-time prospect Ramon Valadez (11-4, 6 KOs) East Los Angeles, California inside of one round. Sanchez, 127, dropped Valadez, 126.8, with a left hand midway through the first. Valadez was never able to regain his legs and was eventually stopped on his feet as a combination separated him from his senses along the ropes. Referee Jack Reiss leaped in to stop the contest at 2:39 of the first round.

Touted prospect Jesse Magdaleno (14-0, 10 KOs) of Las Vegas kept busy against a warm body, scoring three knockdowns en route to a third-round stoppage over Carlos Fulgencio (19-10-1, 12 KOs) of Santo Domingo de Guzman, Dominican Republic.

Fulgencio, 123.6, offered little resilience against the quick-handed Magdaleno, 123.4, who kicked off his 2013 campaign in style. Magdaleno dropped Fulgencio in the first with a right hook, again with his right in the second and ended matters in the third with a right uppercut. Referee Tony Crebs immediately waved off the bout when Fulgencio went down for the third time without a count. Time of the stoppage was 45 seconds of the third round. Fulgencio has now dropped five straight.

In the curtain raiser, decorated former amateur star Egidijus Kavaliauskas (1-0) of Oxnard, California by way of Kaunas, Lithuania employed a withering body attack en route to a four-round unanimous decision over a game Eridanni Leon Quintero (0-1) of Inglewood, California.

Kavaliauskas, 150.2, managed to routinely force Leon Quintero, 150.6, to the ropes while finding his foe’s ribs an open target. Kavaliauskas, whose stellar amateur career was highlighted by representing Lithuania at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, looked more like an experienced veteran rather than a fighter making his pro debut. All three judges scored the bout a shutout, 40-36, for Kavaliauskas.

Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached via e-mail at ortega15rds@lycos.com or you can follow him on Twitter @MarioG280

Saturday Timothy Bradley, inactive since decisioning Manny Pacquiao nine months ago, will return from exile to defend against Russia’s Ruslan Provodnikov the burnt-maroon WBO welterweight belt Bradley took from Pacquiao in June. Provodnikov, with three more knockouts in his 23 prizefights than Bradley has in 29, might well be the wrong style for Bradley, slugger to volume puncher, but wrong styles is where Bradley has found himself since inciting the wrath of a public still naïve enough in 2012 to believe Pacquiao, if he could just keep getting decisions, might meet Floyd Mayweather in the Fight to Save Boxing.

Bradley has appeared on a conference call and a television show recently, as part of his promotional duties, and done a fairly good imitation of the late Joe Frazier declaring forgiveness for Muhammad Ali – which is to say Bradley is unconvincing when he says he is done thinking about what happened to him, and his career, and his family, after he decisioned Pacquiao. He isn’t, and he should not be.

What will they say about what we said about Timothy Bradley? That’s a question to ask ourselves the next time television convinces us to pile on the performance of an athlete like Bradley, the next time we are drafted like pawns in a network’s or promoter’s army of self-interest and profitability, the next time we are convinced something like our proper identities is staked on how well we proclaim the favored man in a superfight was wronged by public servants with nothing to gain by his wronging.

“There is a difference when you view it live and when you view it on TV,” Bradley said on Tuesday’s conference call. “Completely different.”

Completely right. One needn’t bore into the untrustworthy properties of projected images – though one is welcome to, if it will help – to understand how very different, how very unreal, the experience of watching a fight on television is, with its jiggering cameras, close no far no close no from the back oops he moved to the front no not the ref show the face no back up back up change the angle, and its self-interested commentators and self-referential, and self-reverential, scoring and wildly distorting choice of replays.

Each time television must choose between more realistic and more entertaining, it chooses the latter, yet its celebrants assure themselves it chooses the former – till in a crescendo of absurdity they demand actual participants and actual observers actually present at an actual event, not an image projected through myriad filters, review the filtered projection to find truth. If only Van Eyck and Leonardo could see this spectacle, the way the lenses they used for making glorious illusions have supplanted persons’ faith in eyewitnesses, how heartily they would chuckle.

Some bored postgrad might someday arrange an experiment like this: Project a piece of gray slate on a high-definition television and ask a subject seated in a dark, empty, silent room whether the color is nearer blue or purple, and record his answer. Then set headphones on his ears and ask him again after exposing him to this:

“Big blue everywhere! Blue, blue, blue. Another big blue! This is a historic show of blueness.”

“Now I know a few people out there might be saying ‘purple,’ but I just don’t see it.”

“Reminds me of some of the blues I use. Some of them blue-on-blues, son!”

“I have it scored: blue, blue, blue. Look, it’s a pure blue. Not a sky blue or a robin’s egg blue. It’s as blue as the bluest blue you’ll ever see. Three to nothing – all blue!”

It was the week that followed Bradley’s decisioning Pacquiao in June historians will find offensive. The way the proudest moment of a good man’s career was whitewashed by an entire industry, shouting down dissenters and boarding a promoter’s self-profiting vehicle beneath a streaming banner that read: “No need for a rematch, because we already know who really won!” Bradley is right not to forgive them, he is right to admit his devilish side still finds schadenfreude in Juan Manuel Marquez’s unequivocal leveling of Pacquiao six months later.

Bradley is what they used to call “good people”; he is dignified, serious, friendly and confident. He did not fight his best that night against Pacquiao, and he would win a rematch – which is why none was offered, or will be – because Pacquiao would be watched with different sets of eyes, this time noticing his footwork was sloppy and tangled as he swam over and around Bradley and connected solidly with fewer than one in five punches, a sloppiness made manifest by diminished reflexes, a diminishment that later made openings enough to make Marquez, the master gambler, bet his eternal soul on a right hand no amount of promotional prestidigitation can now undo.

There’s a dramatic documentary here for ESPN to produce in 10 or 15 years, one that will say that although Pacquiao clearly lost the second half of his third fight with Marquez, folks still wanted to believe they saw him do things he simply did not do against Bradley, projecting an image of the man who blitzed Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales onto the one across from Tim Bradley seven months after Marquez asked stylistic questions Pacquiao could no longer answer.

“What they did to my son was wrong,” Ray Bradley, Tim’s father, will intone in a deep, stern voice. “He was undefeated, 28 and 0, and the worst he did was make a close fight with the world’s number one? They had no right.”

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

Los Angeles, CA (March 7, 2013)—With just over a week to go, Ruslan Provodnikov is winding down the best training camp of his life, as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career when he takes on WBO Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley on March 16th at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

The fight will be shown live on HBO Championship Boxing at 10:15 pm EST/PST

Under the watchful eyes of Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, Provodnikov, who is ranked number three in the world at Welterweight has trained very hard and is ready for not only his move up in weight, but to be crowned the new WBO world champion.

Below are quotes from Provodnikov and his team as training camp winds down at the famed Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

Quotes from team Provodnikov:

Ruslan Provodnikov: “My training for this fight went better than I ever hoped! I feel like I’m a completely different fighter now and I have gained even more power in my punches after working with Gavin MacMillan, my new strength and conditioning coach. I think Timothy Bradley is in for something he doesn’t expect! I have fought many guys that tried to just box me, but usually that did not end well for them!”

Vadim Kornilov (Manager): ”After the contract for this fight was signed, our job was to make sure that Ruslan’s training camp was complete and he had everything he needed to prepare properly. I think our new strength and conditioning coach Gavin MacMillan and Freddie Roach’s knowledge of the opponent is going to change Bradley’s plan of “I’ll just box him” into a plan of “how do I stay on my feet.”

New strength coach Gavin MacMillan: “Ruslan’s conditioning has progressed from week to week and he is a true professional and he is ready for this fight.”

“Best camp we’ve ever had. Biggest fight we’ve ever had. We’re ready.”
– Freddie Roach

Nothing on Tim Bradley’s resume says his March 16 fight against Ruslan Provodnikov in Carson, Calif., should be called a comeback. He’s unbeaten. He’s got a title. He’s a good citizen. He never retired. Comebacks are for fighters coming off a loss, or rehab, or bankruptcy, or a jail sentence

But here he is, a good guy transformed into a villain in a comeback as bizarre as the scorecards that gave him a victory over Manny Pacquiao in June yet somehow turned him into something he isn’t.

“I don’t get any credit after the Pacquiao fight, whatsoever,’’ Bradley (29-0, 12 KOs) said Tuesday in a conference call. “People talk about me, my style, that I’m boring. Some people talk about my wife, my kids. People sent me death threats after the fight because I won undeservingly. I should have given the belt back.

“A lot of different things went on. I can talk all day about things that people said about me. But it doesn’t matter. None of these people are going to get in the ring with me. People can say whatever they want. It is a free country. So, I am going to say whatever I want, when I want to say it and how I want to say it.

“Those people don’t know me at all. If you get to know me, if you know what I go through, how I train and you still talk crap about me, then you have the problem. No one knows what I go through to prepare for my fights. People need to sell papers I guess.

“I am the nicest guy you will ever meet on the street. Ever.’’

The judges’ scoring in his split-decision over Pacquiao in a welterweight bout has been called the worst. Ever.

But that gives boxing too much credit. Let’s face it, the undisputed title for the worst decision ever is a dead heat in a very crowded field.

The way the public and much of the business treated Bradley, however, was the worst. Ever.

Internet vigilantes, all armed with anonymity, smeared Bradley with impunity and without giving his performance a second look. Did Bradley lose? Yeah, I think so. He suffered foot and ankle injuries. But can anybody remember another bout when the winner showed up at the post-fight news conference in a wheel chair? Didn’t think so. That’s how bizarre the entire night was.

But don’t blame Bradley. He didn’t score the fight. He fought and fought well. Review the tapes and you’ll see how he made Pacquiao look like a fighter in decline. Bradley exposed Pacquiao’s eroding hand speed and provided a preview of what would follow: Juan Manuel Marquez’ knockout of the Filipino in December. For that, Bradley deserves credit, if not a rematch. Instead, he gets death threats from people who aren’t fans. They’re gangsters. Sadly, there are a lot of them

“The result of the Pacquiao-Bradley fight was a very tough result for everybody in the sport and very tough for a lot of people,’’ said Top Rank President Todd DuBoef, who says Bob Arum’s promotional company has made peace with Bradley and his wife, Monica. “Fortunately Tim, Monica and myself have been able to communicate. There was no handbook for what the result of the fight was. No one knew how to handle it.

“We had death threats, Tim had death threats. It was a very spirited blogosphere campaign that we all got sucked into. Fortunately we have a healthy relationship moving forward. We are looking to keep him active and making the biggest fights we can for him.’’

Here’s hoping he wins them in a way that makes him Comeback Fighter of the Year.

Olympic Debut
American Olympic heavyweight Michael Hunter is scheduled to make his pro debut Saturday night on an Iron Boy Promotions card at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix. Chad Davis (4-10), a Phoenix cruiserweight and heavyweight, is Hunter’s scheduled opponent.

Hunter lost in the opening round at the 2012 London Games to a Russian, Artur Beterbiyev, the 2009 World Amateur champion. Hunter led, 8-7, going into the final round. The Olympic preliminary ended, 10-10, but the decision went to Beterbiyev on a tie-breaking vote from the judges.

The Hunter-Davis bout, a four rounder, is one of 14 fights – 10 pro and four amateur – on a card scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. (MST).

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

LOS ANGELES (March 6, 2013) — Bradley vs. Provodnikov takes place on Saturday, March 16, under the stars at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and is promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Banner Promotions and Tecate. Timothy Bradley has been a world champion since 2008, first as a junior welterweight, where he twice unified the titles, and now as a welterweight. Timothy will be making the first defense of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title he won by beating Manny Pacquiao last summer. The bout will be broadcast live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10:15 P.M. ET / PT.

(Listen to the entire call here.)

TODD DuBOEF: This is exciting getting Timothy back in the ring and I know he has the fire. When we first met with Timmy and got his career going under Top Rank we knew we had a special person who had a special sparkle and had an incredible ability to fight. I think he has delivered. This fight is in southern California, where Tim has not fought in a while and The Home Depot Center is a special arena. On March 16 it is going to be electric.

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: I want to thank Top Rank, Cameron Dunkin, my wife and my team, The Home Dept Center and HBO. Training camp has been going well and I am 100%. I can’t wait to get into the ring on the 16th. It is a big challenge and I am excited about it. I know Ruslan Provodnikov is a tough guy and is going to bring the fight to me. I am confident I am going to get the job done and I am going to be victorious once again.

JOEL DIAZ: Camp is going great. Sparring days — Tim has not had a bad day – he has been looking really good. As far as getting ready for the fight, Tim could fight this weekend, that’s how ready he is. We don’t take anyone light, no matter who it is or what style he has. Ruslan has his style and I know he is training really hard because this is a great opportunity for him. I watch Provodnikov fights every night and know what he is and he’s not going to change very much. I know he has power in both hands, but to catch Tim Bradley is going to be very hard. Tim is really smart and now his punching power has now increased because we made some adjustments. You are going to see a different Tim Bradley on the 16th and don’t be surprised if it doesn’t go the distance.

Is this a statement fight for you?

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: Every fight from here on out is a statement fight, especially coming after the Pacquiao fight. I am looking to make a statement in this fight and I am looking to damage this guy. I am looking to put this guy out. I don’t want to go 12 rounds with this guy. The longer he stays around the more confident he will get so I want to get him out of there as soon as possible.

How does Provodnikov match in power with others you have fought?

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: I don’t know about his knockout power. I’m not worried about his power. He needs to worry about my power. I am not worried about anything he is going to bring. He is going to stand in the middle of the ring. I know exactly how to beat this guy – outbox him. Provodnikov has to worry about me, I am not worried about him.

How are you at 147?

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: The speed is still there and the power will be there. In camp we have been working on a lot of techniques and turning over my shots and making them harder and more effective. The sparring partners are asking what am I doing differently because my shots are a lot harder now.

One of your sparring partners beat Ruslan? Have you spoken to him about that fight?

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: Mauricio [Herrera], he’s a tough cookie. He always comes in great shape and has good defense. We sparred yesterday. He told me “you come to fight, every single day,” and he makes me work hard. He told me don’t exchange with him. He will apply pressure the whole fight but it is smart pressure. He is going to eat a lot of shots but will always be in front of your face.

How as your life changed since the Pacquiao fight?

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: The Pacquiao made me grow as a person and as a fighter and it made me realize who was important and who was not important and what is important in my career. What is not important is what people’s perception of me is. Everyone has an opinion and they can say whatever they want to say but it’s not going to stop me from what I do and that’s kick but in the ring. What’s important is my family and I pay attention to my career and stop worrying about everyone else’s career and what they are making. I just need to focus on my career and my life. Stop reading all this garbage that all these people are writing about me. I stopped reading columns – I used to read it all the time now I don’t read it at all.

What were the things that upset you the most?

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: I don’t get any credit after the Pacquiao fight, whatsoever. People talk about me, my style, that I’m boring. Some people talk about my wife, my kids. People sent me death threats after the fight because I won undeservingly. I should have given the belt back. A lot of different things went on. I can talk all day about things that people said about me. But it doesn’t matter – none of these people are going to get in the ring with me. People can say whatever they want – it is a free country – so I am going to say whatever I want, when I want to say it and how I want to say it. Those people don’t know me at all. If you get to know me, if you know what I go through, how I train and you still talk crap about me, then you have the problem. No one knows what I go through to prepare for my fights. People need to sell papers I guess. I am the nicest guy you will ever meet on the street, ever.

How did you get death threats?

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: Mail and phone calls. I didn’t report anything. I am in my house and nobody will mess with me when I’m in my house. I didn’t really take them seriously. People were mad but I didn’t think they would come to my house and take me out I don’t think that would ever happen.

TODD DuBOEF: The result of the Pacquiao-Bradley fight was a very tough result for everybody in the sport and very tough for a lot of people. Fortunately Tim, Monica and myself have been able to communicate. There was no handbook for what the result of the fight was. No one knew how to handle it. We had death threats, Tim had death threats and it was a very spirited blogosphere campaign that we all got sucked into. Fortunately we have a healthy relationship moving forward and we are looking to keep him active and making the biggest fights we can for him.

Were you following the WBO’s re-judging of the fight?

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: I laugh at that. Were there 5 judges at Pacquiao-Márquez III?

TODD DuBOEF: I get the questioning here, but look at the Big 12 when they just looked at a basketball game last week between Kansas and Iowa State, was it? People can say what they want about those judgments. We are on a very forward moving model.

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: There is a difference when you view it live and when you view it on TV. Completely different.

What are your thoughts on the Pacquiao KO in his last fight?

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: Do you want the devils side or do you want to good side of me? One side said ‘that’s what you get for not re-matching me.’ The other side said ‘that was a helluva fight and I can’t believe what just happened.’

Was there still a foot problem that made you forego a December fight?

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: My feet were not 100%. In the back of my mind I was thinking about if I was ready or not. I also did not want the rematch with [Lamont] Peterson. It was a combination of the two things but mainly I did not want to fight Peterson.

TODD DuBOEF: For the December fight we were talking with both [Robert] Guerrero and [Andre] Berto. We had offers with them and we had accepted the fight with both of them. HBO was brokering a deal for us in December and we were going to go to Marlins Park [Miami, Fla.] and we were waiting for them to wrap that up; but both of them declined the fight and decided to fight each other – those were the real other offers that we were looking at. Then it came down to Peterson and Tim expressed that he already fought and beat this guy — been there, done that — so let’s go onward and upward and that was it. The Gamboa fight was a thing for March, we tried to get that confirmed but Gamboa didn’t want the fight either.

Did you train differently for this fight?

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: I worked on a lot of technique. Just technique – turning our punches and sitting down on our punches. It’s showing in the ring. It’s way different now. My punches are a lot harder – a lot more solid. The power is there – I am hurting guys in camp. I was lacking technique and I think a lot of people are going to see it in this fight. I come out and throw my right and put my body into it and I think I am going to do some damage in this fight.

Joel do you think Timmy will be stronger in this fight?

JOEL DIAZ: Yes, I think he will be. Punching power? Yes. For the Pacquiao fight we wanted to execute Manny’s strategy – movement, technique but the injury made us survive for the fight. But this guy that comes straight forward, he is just a target in front of you. Now I have Tim hitting a lot harder. I can tell from the sparring partners that were going six or eight rounds that now can’t handle two rounds. We made some changes and they are working really well. I will tell you this – Ruslan will come forward, but he will only come forward until I decide he will not come forward. I will tell Tim we do now want him coming forward, just like the Pacquiao fight. By the eleventh or twelfth round [of the Pacquiao fight], who was pushing the other guy back? Tim was. Tim does what I tell him to do and when I tell him to push Ruslan back, Tim will do it. When I told him to push the fight back, he was pushing Pacquiao back. Ruslan is a straightforward fight. He has power but he is going to come forward until I say so.

Will Ruslan be easier to hit than Manny Pacquiao?

TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR: Oh heck yes. Pacquiao is tough to hit – he is good defensively.

JOEL DIAZ: Pacquiao is really smart, but at the same time, Tim is the same way. Pacquiao was throwing punches from every angle and missing most of them.

Are you concerned with what Freddie Roach brings to the table?

JOEL DIAZ: Freddie Roach is not my concern. My concern is the fighter. Freddie Roach was just a name that was created. I think Freddie Roach lost the love of the sport. He created a name and it’s out there but he doesn’t have the compassion for the sport that he had a few years ago. I’ve seen it in the last Márquez fight. I’ve seen it in the fight before, the third fight with Márquez. Freddie Roach is the least of my concern for any fight. I just focus on the fighter. Freddie Roach is always trying to play mind games. Freddie says Tim is going to run – that is just Freddie playing mind games. They don’t know how we are going to fight. He is trying to get under Tim’s skin. At the end of the day Tim is going to be a winner, and that’s what matters.

TODD DuBOEF: We have not only this main event but also a lot of other Los Angeles area guys on the card and we hope everyone comes out to see them. It is now time for one of the elite fighters in the world, Tim Bradley, to get back in the ring so we can see him shine.

JOEL DIAZ: On March 16 you will see a different Tim Bradley and a more explosive Tim Bradley.

MATT ROWLAND, BANNER PROMOTIONS: We are very happy for the opportunity that Tim Bradley and Top Rank has given us and we know that Ruslan will make the most of it.

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: First of all I want to say Happy Birthday to my trainer Freddie Roach. I haven’t seen him yet today but I’ll see him in about an hour. Freddie I will give you your present on March 16. Training is going very well. I am happy with everything.

FREDDIE ROACH: Ruslan is becoming a better fighter all the time. When he sparred with Pacquiao he learned Pacquiao’s style. He knows how to fight and he knows the art of boxing. He is looking pretty good and we’re doing what we need to get ready for this fight. We are fighting a very good boxer who can move if he needs to move. Ruslan’s working the jab and cutting the ring off. Everything is in place right now. The game plan is there. We have a couple more days of sparring to go and we’ll be there.

Joel Diaz stated that you have lost your love of the sport of boxing. That you are now just a brand name.

FREDDIE ROACH: I could tell him where to go but he doesn’t know me. He doesn’t know what I do every day. He doesn’t see me in the gym working with these fighters. I know he’s just saying it to get under my skin. I have a game plan and the right fighters to carry that game plan through and on the 16th we’ll see who’s the better coach or who’s the better man.

In retrospect do you think it would have been better to fight Bradley than Marquez?

FREDDIE ROACH: No. Part of life in boxing is losing and we have no regrets whatsoever. We felt like we didn’t need to redeem anything with the Bradley fight because we thought we won so easily. Most of the public in the world knew Pacquiao won. Just three people [Bradley and two judges] and Bradley’s trainer thought Bradley won – so you have four guys against the world. We are not worried about that.

Do you see a time in the future where the rematch with Bradley would happen?

FREDDIE ROACH: I don’t see a need for a rematch but if the business makes sense it will happen.

How do you feel about the weight switch?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I think everything is going to be fine. The training camp is great and I feel great at 147. I do weigh a little more and it is easier now than it normally is at this time two weeks out.

Do you plan to stay at 147 or go back down?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I don’t know what my plans are going to be after this fight. Realistically I have always been waiting for a fight against Tim Bradley and I would have taken the fight with him at 140 or 147. I think I can beat him at any weight class.

FREDDIE ROACH: Ruslan is a very good 147-pounder who happens to be able to make 140. 147 is easier to make but it is still no walk in the park. We have to watch his diet. He weighs about 153 right now so he is in striking distance. He feels pretty strong at the weight and I think he will be a better puncher at the weight. I like him at 147 more than I like him at 140.

How many fights have you been his trainer?

FREDDIE ROACH: I have trained him the last three fights, I just haven’t been able to get to the fight with him because of conflicts with Pacquiao and other fighters. I had my friend and assistant Eric Brown help me out a bit and he did a great job. Right now everything is falling into place and I’ll be in the corner this time also. (fourth fight in camp, first fight in corner).

How do you feel about the possibility of Ruslan getting the win against Bradley where Manny didn’t?

FREDDIE ROACH: I never really think about that. I keep them separated. What happened, happened and there is nothing we an do about it. This is a big fight for Ruslan – the biggest fight of his life. It is a great opportunity and I’m happy he has the opportunity. I always thought he was stronger and the bigger puncher of the two. I love his chances to win by knockout.

MATT ROWLAND: Ruslan is taking this fight because it is the biggest fight we could make. He is fighting Tim Bradley who has only fought welterweight twice. So we are not dealing with a big welterweight and he wasn’t a big puncher at 140 so he shouldn’t be a big puncher at 147, so weight will definitely not be an issue.

Bradley is using a sparring partner that beat Provodnikov…

FREDDIE ROACH: I think he is a different fighter than the one that lost. I think it is a smart thing for them to do. We got the best sparring partners we could to emulate Bradley. We spent a lot of money going out and getting the right guys and they did the same thing. The thing is when they get in the ring at match up on fight night it won’t be anything like the sparring. That’s how you get ready for big fights.

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I heard that Bradley is using Herrera for sparring but they don’t know what kind of preparations I had for that fight or what kind of trainer I had. My training camp now is completely different and I don’t think I lost that fight anyway. I have been improving and with my new trainer and strength-and-conditioning coach [Gavin MacMillan] working with me and I going to be even more different than I was in the last couple of fights.

Why do you think you were not at your best for that fight?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: Unfortunately at that time and did not have the conditioning that I have now. I didn’t have everything that I have now. First of all I came into the country a lot later. I didn’t have the money to get a full training camp that I do now – I didn’t have the right trainer and I didn’t have the right sparring. Now everything is different. It has been different every fight after that fight.

What went through your mind when you found out about this opportunity?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I knew that my title shot was coming. There was talk of Brandon Rios who I know didn’t want to fight me. When this opportunity came around I said ‘yes’ right away. I think this is even a better opportunity. This win would mean a lot more than anybody at my weight.

Are you bothered by Joel Diaz’s statements about you?

FREDDIE ROACH: I met the person [Joel Diaz] maybe twice in my life. I see him around the boxing game. I know that he had a good record. He seems like he did a great job with his fighter. My fighter and I get along well. It’s not about the trainers. My fighter is the one who’s going to win the fight, not me. Whatever he says, I don’t care. I don’t have time to be mad at someone. I don’t read anything he says; I just don’t have time for that. I’m sure he is a nice person outside of the ring. This fight is very important for Ruslan and me and the entire camp and we want to win the fight.

FREDDIE ROACH: We know the style of our opponent and we have some tricks up our sleeves. He’s going to see some things he hasn’t seen before. He is right on cue with everything he needs to be ready for this fight. He’s getting better and better and we still have two more days of sparring to go. We just have to maintain and stay sharp right now, all the hard work has been done. We’re ready to go.

How will the movement of Tim Bradley affect Ruslan?

FREDDIE ROACH: It is obviously a big challenge but have a very good game plan. We will make that ring small – one that we can set up traps. We are fighting a world champion – this is for all the money. It’s the biggest fight of his life and we are going to do everything we can to win the fight.

MATT ROWLAND: We think it’s the right fight at the right time.

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: Everyone should come out and support us in this fight because you will never forget it.

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Remaining tickets to the Bradley-Provodnikov world welterweight championship event, priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, can be purchased online at AXS.com or by phone at 888-929-7849 as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Suites are available by calling 1-877-604-8777. For information of group discounts, please call 1-877-234-8425.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, www.banner-promotions.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/banner-promotions or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, twitter.com/bannerboxing or twitter.com/hboboxing.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF, (February 26, 2013) — Hall of Fame trainer FREDDIE ROACH and No. 3 world-rated welterweight contender RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV took time out of training camp, at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, to discuss their upcoming challenge of undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, Jr. The Bradley vs. Provodnikov WBO welterweight championship will take place, Saturday, March 16 at The Home Depot Center and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

“We are having an outstanding camp,” said Roach. “Ruslan has given me everything I have asked for in training. The fact that Ruslan has been Manny Pacquiao’s lead sparring partner his past two camps has given Ruslan an outstanding foundation from which to work. When Manny was preparing to defend his title against Bradley last spring I said any of Manny’s sparring partners could beat Bradley. Ruslan will to prove that on March 16.

“I’ve heard Bradley say he’s going to take the fight to Ruslan. He said the same thing before his fight with Manny. And when he feels Ruslan’s power, like when he felt Manny’s, it’s going to be a remake of Forrest Gump. ‘Run, Timmy, run!’ This isn’t about Ruslan finishing what Manny started. It’s about duplicating it.”

“I’m very happy and very satisfied with everything I have been doing with Freddie,” said Provodinkov (22-1, 15 KOs), a native of Siberia. The two-fisted Russian buzzsaw enters this fight riding a five-bout winning streak with four of those victories coming by way of knockout. “I know my fans have seen me on ESPN Friday Night Fights fighting a certain way, but on March 16, they will see a different Ruslan inside the ring. My work with conditioning coach Gavin MacMillan has made me stronger and faster and my endurance is tremendous. I have never felt so good.”

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Banner Promotions and Tecate, remaining tickets to the Bradley-Provodnikov world welterweight championship event, priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, can be purchased online at AXS.com or by phone at 888-929-7849 as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Suites are available by calling 1-877-604-8777. For information of group discounts, please call 1-877-234-8425.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, www.banner-promotions.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/banner-promotions or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, twitter.com/bannerboxing or twitter.com/hboboxing.

CARSON, CALIF. (February 6, 2013) — Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion and Top-10 pound for pound fighter TIMOTHY “Desert Storm” BRADLEY, JR. will make his 2013 debut, making his first title defense, against the No. 2-rated contender RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV, Saturday, March 16, under the stars at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Bradley vs. Provodnikov will be televised live as the main event on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.

These two gladiators boast a near-perfect record of 51-1 (27 KOs).

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Banner Promotions and Tecate, tickets to the Bradley- Provodnikov world championship event will go on sale This Friday! February 8, at 10:00 a.m. PT. Priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, tickets can be purchased online at AXS.com or by phone at 888-929-7849 as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Suites are available by calling 1-877-604-8777. For information of group discounts, please call 1-877-234-8425.

” I am so happy and inspired to be fighting in the Los Angeles area in front of my home state fans,” said Bradley. “There is nothing more exhilarating than defending your title for the first time. March 16 will be the first step in doing what I did as the junior welterweight champion, cleaning house.”

“I want to thank my team and HBO for making this fight happen and giving me this long awaited opportunity,” said Provodnikov. “I promise that once everyone sees this fight no one will regret making it happen because once we are both in the ring I will fight until the end and the more Bradley will want to fight me the more exciting this fight will be for everyone!”

“We are excited to be able to showcase Tim. He is a tremendous talent,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank. “Tim cleaned out the junior welterweight division as champion, beating everyone. We are confident that he will perpetuate that accomplishment as welterweight champion. It’s going to be an exciting night.”

“Ruslan understands that these opportunities do not come along often. He knows that this is a great chance for him and he will rise to the occasion and win the fight,” said Provodnikov’s promoter Arthur Pelullo of Banner Promotions.

“We are delighted to present Timothy Bradley Jr.’s first defense of his world welterweight title on March 16 at The Home Depot Center in southern California,” said Kery Davis, senior vice president, programming, HBO Sports. “An intriguing part of the fight is that it is as much of an opportunity for Bradley as his challenger Ruslan Provodnikov.”

Bradley (29-0, 12 KOs), from Palm Springs, Calif., a two-division world champion trained by Joel Diaz, returns to the ring off his historic and career-best victory over Manny Pacquiao last June 9, ending the defending WBO welterweight champion’s title reign and his seven-year winning streak. It was only the fourth professional loss Pacquiao had suffered in a 60-bout career that included world titles in eight different weight divisions. Bradley, 29, won his first world title in 2008, travelling across the pond to dethrone the defending WBC super lightweight champion Junior Witter in the Englishman’s backyard of Nottingham, England. Bradley’s sixth-round knockdown of Witter shocked the hometown crowd as Bradley won a hard-fought split decision. One year later, in his second championship defense, Bradley unified the title by dominating then-WBO champion Kendall Holt. In a career-defining fight, Bradley weathered a first-round knockdown, and showed his trademark heart and determination during the remainder of the match, to win a unanimous decision. Bradley opted to keep the WBO junior welterweight title. Bradley successfully defended that title twice. In August 2009 he dominated former world champion Nate Campbell before an accidental clash of heads near the end of round three led to the fight later being ruled no contest when Campbell could not continue due to a nasty gash over his left eye. Bradley followed that up with a December 2009 schooling of undefeated interim WBO champion Lamont Peterson, which included a third-round knockdown, the first time Peterson had ever hit the canvas in his 27-bout professional career. With no worthy contenders available to defend his title against, Bradley moved up to 147 pounds and won a 12-round unanimous decision over undefeated Top-10 welterweight contender Carlos Abregu on July 17, 2010. Bradley kicked off 2011 by reunifying the welterweight titles with a 10-round shellacking of undefeated WBC super light champion Devon Alexander in January, followed by an eighth-round knockout victory of former world champion Joel Casamayor in November, setting up his date with destiny — Pacquiao.

Provodnikov (22-1, 15 KOs), born and raised in Berezovo, Khanty-Mansi, Russia in Siberia, is trained by Hall of Famer World-Famous Freddie Roach. He has built up a steady fan base due to his exciting fights which have been televised nationally. Known for his aggressive style and excellent two-fisted punching power, Provodnikov, 29, is already more than prepared for his world title challenge inasmuch as he has been Pacquiao’s main sparring partner for the past 12 months. Provodnikov, whose professional resume boasts victories over former world champions Javier Jauregui and DeMarcus Corley, is riding a five-bout winning streak, with four of those victories coming by way of knockout. He captured the WBO Inter-Continental junior welterweight title via a sixth-round stoppage of David Torres, January 27, 2012, and successfully defended that title five months later on June 29, knocking out Jose Reynoso in the second round. Torres and Reynoso had a combined record of 37-5-3 when they fought Provodnikov.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, www.banner-promotions.com or www.hbo.com/boxing.