Team Provodnikov in Russia planning Ruslan's next bout

For Immediate Release Moscow, Russia (September 26, 2014)-- Former WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov was joined in his native Russia by his promoter Artie Pelullo and trainer Freddie Roach. The three, along with manager Vadim Kornilov are in Russia to discuss Provodnikov's next bout, which will take place in his homeland before the end of the year. Provodnikov has made his feelings known that he wants a rematch with Chris Algieri early in 2015.

PROVODNIKOV STOPS ALVARADO AFTER 10 AND BECOMES NEW WBO JR. WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION

BROOMFIELD, CO (OCTOBER 19, 2013)--In a classic bout that lived up to it’s billing, Ruslan Provodnikov won the WBO Jr. Welterweight championship when Mike Alvarado did not continue after round ten of a scheduled twelve round bout at the before 7,012 fans at a soldout 1stBank Arena.

The fight was promoted by Top Rank and Banner Promotions and was televised on HBO World Championship boxing.

The two slugged it out from the opening bell with Provodnikov rocking Alvarado in round one.  The two fought at a fast pace  and traded vicious shots which thrilled the crowd for every second of the fight.

Alvarado tried to box and move to offset the relentless pressure of Provodnikov.  In round seven, Provodnikov started to bleed from the nose and later suffered a cut over his right eye.   In round eight the fight turned in favor of Provodnikov when he sent Alvarado to canvas on two occasions.

In round nine, a massive swelling formed over the right eye of Alvarado as he continued to absorb punishment from “The Siberian Rocky”.

Provodnikov battered Alvarado at the end of round nine and ten and Alvarado even walked to the wrong corner.

Just before the eleventh round bell, referee Tony Weeks waved the fight off as Alvarado could not continue.

“This is my best dream come true”, said Provodnikov, who was able to realize the monumental moment with his mother sitting ringside.

“I am a champion like Leonard and Duran.  To be a world champion, you must take risks and i did that by coming into his hometown.  I give Alvarado a lot of credit, he is a real man, a real champion.

Provodnikov was guided in the corner by Marvin Somodio as chief trainer Freddie was in the Philippines with Manny Pacquiao.

“I needed to win this for Freddie.  I miss him”

On the conclusion, Provodnikov finished, “I made him not want to fight me anymore.”

Provodnikov of Beryozovo, Russia is now 23-2 with 16 knockouts.

On the undercard, Banner Promotions fighters also scored wins via stoppage:

Vitor Jones De Oliveria dropped Martin Quesada three times in round two en route to a stoppage at 2:01 of the same round of a scheduled four round super featherweight bout.

The first knockdown came from a hard right to the body.  The two subsequent knockdowns also came from body shots the were the culmination of ripping combinations.

De Oliverira of Brasilia, Brazil is now 1-0, 1 no-contest.

De Oliveria, is the nephew of former four time, two-division world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas was very happy with his performance.

“I stayed calm and after the first knockdown, i knew i could stop him shortly after.

De Oliverira then got very emotional when he said, “I just want to be great and i cant wait to get home to take my mom and sisters to the movies.

Heavyweight Donovan Dennis kicked off the show with a 3rd round stoppage over “previously undefeated Hugo Arceo in a scheduled six round bout.

Dennis dropped Arceo in the first round and then again in round two.  He bloodied the nose of Arceo and continued to pound away as he knocked the mouthpiece out several times and the bout was stopped at 2:33 of round one.

Dennis, 221 lbs of Davenport, Iowa improves to 9-1, 1 no-contest with 7 knockouts.

“He was good. He hit hard and kept on coming”, said Dennis

“I need more work and I will keep improving.  I need to jab more and that will help me set up the power shots.

BANNER PROMOTIONS DONOVAN DENNIS AND VITOR JONES DE OLIVEIRA BACK IN ACTION TONIGHT ON ALVARADO - PROVODNIKOV

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BROOMFIELD, COLORADO (OCTOBER 19, 2013)--Tonight at the 1stBank Arena, One of the most anticipated bouts of the year will take place when WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Mike Alvarado defends his title against Ruslan Provodnikov.

The fight, promoted by Top Rank and Banner Promotions will be seen live on HBO Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 pm eastern / Pacific time.

Before the cameras roll, two members of the Banner Promotions stable will be in action.  Heavyweight Donovan Dennis and super featherweight Vitor Jones De Oliveira will take part in six and four round fights respectively.

Heavyweight Donovan Dennis  will take on Hugo Arceo of Boulder (3-0-1, 3 KO’s) Colorado.

Dennis of Davenport, Iowa has a record of 8-1, 1 No Contest with 6 knockouts and will be making his 6th appearance of 2013.  He is coming off 2nd round stoppage over Kevin Tiller onJuly 27th.

At Friday’s weigh in Dennis weighed 221 pounds while Arceo checked in at 245 pounds.

De Oliveira of Brasilia, Brazil will take on Martin Quesada.

De Oliveira is the nephew of former four-time, two-division world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas.

De Oliveira (0-0, 1 No-Contest) weighed in at 130 ¾ pounds while Quesada of Denver, Colorado checked in at 128 ½ pounds.

PROVODNIKOV, FREITAS AND DIAZ COME FULL CIRCLE FOR OCTOBER 19TH FIGHT CARD

PROVODNIKOV, FREITAS AND DIAZ COME FULL CIRCLE FOR OCTOBER 19TH FIGHT CARD

Philadelphia (October 18, 2013)—On April 28, 2007 Ruslan Provodnikov scored a 1st round stoppage over Antwon Barrett in his American debut.

The result maybe was just a blip on the radar that night because it was a four round bout on the undercard of a highly publicized Lightweight unification bout between Juan Diaz and Acelino Freitas.

Fast forward six and a half years, Provodnikov, Diaz and Freitas will be featured in different capacities when Provodnikov fights WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Mike Alvarado at the 1stBank Arena in Broomfield, Colorado.

The bout which is promoted by Top Rank and Banner Promotions will be televised live on HBO Championship Boxing.

In what most experts are calling a Fight of the Year candidate, Provodnkov (22-2, 15 KO's) takes on Alvarado (34-1, 23 KO's) in the highly anticipated bout.

Diaz (37-4, 19 KO's) will continue his comeback when he takes on Juan Santiago (14-10-1, 8 KO's) in a ten round bout.

Freitas will be in the corner of his nephew Vitor Jones De Olivera when the Jr. Lightweight participates in a four round bout against Martin Quezada.

“I am very blessed to be the main event on Saturday”, said Provodnikov.

“To be the main event is a big accomplishment.“

“Those types seem so long ago and the time has passed and now I am the main event and I am very glad things have gone the so well for me.

“Said Acelino Freitas, “I only remember Provodnikov as being a nice kid at the time.  The events of Saturday night proves that god’s destiny was for us to reunite this Saturday.”

ALVARADO – PROVODNIKOV FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEOS

BROOMFIELD, CO (OCTOBER 18, 2013)—Below are videos from Thursday’s press conference in Denver from the final press conference for the Mike Alvarado – Ruslan Provodnikov WBO Jr. Welterweight title fight that will take place this Saturday night at the 1stBank Arena in Broomfield.

The fight, which is promoted by Top Rank and Banner Promotions will be televised Live on HBO.

Besides the final press conference video, there are interviews with Vitor Jones De Olivera, four-time world champion Acelino “Popo”Freitas, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum and Provodnikov.

Media outlets may use the videos on their websites by copying the embedded codes

 

                               

Vitor Jones De Olivera    Acelino Freitas            Bob Arum                 Ruslan Provodnikov

 

 

Final Press Conference

Alvarado - Provodnikov Conference Call Transcript

MIKE ALVARADO & RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV

With Respective Managers Henry Delgado and Vadim Kornilov &  

Promoters:  Top Rank’s Bob Arum & Banner Promotions Artie Pelullo

Conference Call Transcript, Monday, October 14, 2013

 

 

For the first time in 13 years, and leave it to local world champion "Mile High" Mike Alvarado to do it, the Denver area will host a world championship boxing event.  A sellout crowd is expected.  It will be broadcast live on HBO beginning9:45 pm ET and will be book-ended with some incredible programming for boxing fans -- the replay of last week's Timothy Bradley - Juan Manuel Márquez world welterweight title fight before and Legendary Nights: The Tale of Gatti-Ward, following the live fight.

 

BOB ARUM:  There is not much I can say as a promoter.  You don’t have to sell this fight.  Everyone that knows anything about boxing knows that this fight will be a candidate for ‘Fight of the Year.”  Two great warriors - two guys that entertain the public.  You don’t need a sales pitch for this one and it’s showing at the box office as there are so few tickets left and by fight time it will be sold out.

 

ARTIE PELULLO:  Bob has said it all about what the fight is going to be.  It’s a great television fight, a fan-friendly fight.  These guys don’t know any other way other than to come right at you.  It will be another “Fight of the Year” candidate.  Mike Alvarado is a great champion and Ruslan is hungry and wants to fight.  He’s been doing this for 5 ½ years and is no stranger to fighting in others’ hometowns – as he has never fought in his.  I have been promoting events for over 30 years and for the first time fifteen family members are coming out to see the fight – a first for me.  I would like to introduce Ruslan and his manager Vadim Kornilov, two young kids grateful for the opportunity Mike Alvarado has given them.

 

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV:  It has been an extraordinary training camp.  We have been in camp for eight weeks and it’s almost over.  We are adding the final touches this week and it’s never been better.  Every muscle and bone in my body is ready to go.

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  This is exciting.  It’s a dream come true to defend this title in my hometown and having all of my main supporters here.  It’s a blessing.  Training camp has been great and I’m ready to get in there and do what I always do – win this fight and retain this title and go on to bigger and better things.  I’m excited about it.  At the end of this week everyone is going to see a great performance out of me.

 

HENRY DELGADO:  Mike never needs extra motivation to fight but I have seen extra effort in this training camp.  We have to tell him to back off a little bit.  It’s going to be an exciting fight.  The whole city is on fire – everywhere you go people are talking about the fight.  This is a great thing for Denver.  They have the Broncos, the Rockies and now Mike Alvarado is on the scene.  There is great buzz in the city so tune into the fight – there is going to be some fireworks.

 

How do you feel about the expectations of this fight?

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  All of our fights have been top-caliber fights.  The anticipation is from the wars that we have been in tells us that this fight has ‘War’ written all over it and there’s a good chance that this fight will turn into that.  I have a good game plan and I know how I’m going to box to win this fight, but you never know, this fight could turn into a crazy war and we could see Rios I all over again.

 

Do you expect that to happen again after 4 or 5 in a row?

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  I am not expecting a war because of the way I have been training and how I’ve seasoned as a professional.  I know I am going to stay strong, boxing and focused on my game plan to make the fight go the way I need it to go and not make it a war.  But you never know – that one show could change the fight around.

 

HBO has positioned this fight to be broadcast the same night as the special Legendary Nights: The Tale of Gatti-Ward, the all-action trilogy.  How does that make you feel?

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  When I sit here and think about it, it’s kind of scary, those dudes about killed each other.   That’s a big step.  Those are some big names to categorize ourselves with.  It’s an honor to be in that kind of fight.  We’ll see what happens.  I am ready to perform and show greatness.

 

How do you feel about he expectations?

 

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV:  I try not to think about that and not to worry about that.  My job is to get ready for the fight and to come in and do what I do best.

 

How do you expect Alvarado to approach you in the fight?

 

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV:  I’m sure Mike is 100% ready for this fight and is approaching this fight very seriously.  He said he is going to try and box me and I am ready for anything.  I can also box, I am not only a brawler and we can compete in any style that he chooses.  I think if Mike chooses to box it will be better for me because I think that Mike is a better brawler than he is a boxer.

 

What type of fight do you feel it will evolve into?

 

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV:  I think we are going to have to fight no matter what.  Whether it will be one punch, but I think it will turn into a fight no matter what.  I don’t think either of us can run for the entire fight and I don’t think he’ll be able to box with me as well as he thinks.  This will turn into a fight.  If I can make Timothy Bradley fight me I don’t think there is anyone that won’t end up fighting me.

 

What did he think about Bradley’s fight on Saturday?

 

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV:  I was not surprised at all.  I know Timothy Bradley is a great champion.  He comes in prepared for all of his fights and he was 100% ready.  I saw what I expected to see, Timothy Bradley outbox Marquez.  I heard Marquez say that he was going to have to finish him off after Ruslan and knowing the type of fighter that Timothy Bradley is, I didn’t think that would happen.  He couldn’t finish him off.  Timothy is a warrior and he was going to come in and fight.  Bradley fought the way he fought because Marquez let him fight that way.  You cannot beat Timothy Bradley by boxing – you need to pressure him and break him down inside and outside and to the body – that’s the only way you can beat that guy.  You cannot box him.  I think that’s the main mistake Juan Manuel Marquez made, he thought he could beat him by boxing.  I was not surprised at how the fight went but surprised that one of the judges gave it to Marquez.  I get more and more surprised by the judging in every fight I watch and wonder what fight they are watching.

 

You are the only one to hurt Bradley.  What does that say about you and boxers?
RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV:  It’s up to you guys and the fans to summarize the fight.  I didn’t come into the ring to move around and box.  I came into the ring not to box but to win the fight.  I wasn’t looking for the easy way out and to box him.  I knew I needed to break him – that’s a risk but I knew I had to take it to win.

 

Are you worried about not having Freddie Roach at the fight?

 

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV:  From the beginning we knew there was a chance that Freddie would not be in the corner on the day of the fight.  We knew he had obligations to Manny Pacquiao.  We trained with Freddie for eight weeks exactly and it has been an awesome training camp.  Also we have been working on how we defeat Mike Alvarado.  It has all come together.  I am going to have Freddie’s assistant Marvin Somodio in my corner.  Marvin has been there every day and I know what to do.  I know what to do once the fight comes.  I am not worried about Freddie not being there.  He is obviously the backbone of our team – he is the captain and I had hoped he could be there, there is a chance he could be there on fight night but I am ready if he’s not.

 

What did you think about Bradley-Marquez?

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  Bradley fought great.  He obviously did what he had to do.  He had a game plan together to win that fight and he stuck to it.  He didn’t let Marquez take him out of his game like Ruslan did and executed to win the fight.  I give Tim a lot of credit.  He’s a great champion and it was a good fight to watch.  He fought the wrong fight against Provodnikov and he recovered well from that.  He walked in there thinking he was going to be able to walk thru him and that type of fight happens.  Every fight is different and that’s how that fight had to end up.  I fought in that same venue, same ring and same referee so I knew what he was going through.  My fight (with Rios) turned into the same kind of fight so maybe it’s something about that place.  But on Saturday, he fought great and put on a great performance.

 

But the referee stopped your fight and let Bradley go on…

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  I didn’t get the opportunity to come back and show that I could fight back from what was going on in that moment.  I was disappointed, but it is what it is and the referee had to do his job and I’m just glad I redeemed myself to prove what should have happened.  So I’m happy where I am now and ready to put on another good performance.

 

 Are you puzzled that you didn’t get a bigger fight since beating Rios?

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  That’s just the way it goes sometimes with the negotiations and the way fights get set up.  I am ready for this fight and know that those fights will still be available.  It is a dream come true to bring the title home to my hometown – to be able to perform in front of these people.  I can’t take away from that and all those other bigger fights are yet to come and I’ll be ready for them.

 

Do you think your boxing could be the difference in this fight?

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  I think it will be the difference.  In my training and I have learned and developed that. Experimenting with it in my last fight with Rios gave me confidence that I can adjust in a fight.  Sticking to my game plan, keeping the focus and not letting it break into a fight like that is the plan.  Keeping the focus is what I have to do to win this fight.

 

How have the demands been on your time while training and fighting in hometown?

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  I have been able to keep my focus and my eyes on my game plan.  It’s exciting to me and I’m very hyped up for this moment in my life and I am ready for what I need to do.  Its here and its coming really soon.  I have the support from everyone and it is a dream feeling.  I’m ready for it and I can’t wait.

 

Mauricio Herrera is a common opponent.  How are you different now?

 

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV:  I watched the fight between Herrera and Alvarado and you could see that Mike was going toe-to-toe with him.  When I fought him there was moving a lot and clinching a lot and didn’t want to fight me.  He won the fight by holding me and moving around.  Both fights were great fights.  For me, it was something I had to go through in my career in order to change and it was a changing point for me.  Now I am fighting with the greatest trainer and having a great training camp.  I am definitely more experienced and a different fighter now.

 

ARTIE PELULLO:  Marvin Somodio is not a replacement for the corner – he has been training with Ruslan every day.

 

BOB ARUM:  Freddie met Somodio in the Philippines.  He is a kid that has worked in the camp with Manny and Freddie and he has come to America and is working out of Freddie’s gym.  He speaks perfect English and can understand everything that his being said.  Even though Ruslan uses an interpreter on the call he is fluent in English.

 

ARTIE PELULLO:  Vadim would also be there to translate whatever needs to be done.  Vadim does the translation when it is not 100% clear in the action of the moment and now he would be doing it for Marvin as he did it for Freddie.

 

VADIM KORNILOV:  Freddie has not yet confirmed that he will no be there on fight night.  It is just something that we are expecting because he is training Manny right now.  I have been translating in the corner for the past 15 fights.

 

Are you worried about being in too many wars?

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  It hasn’t caught up to me yet.  Being in those kinds of fights has made me that much better as a fighter.  Being in fights like that has helped me adjust into being a better boxer.  Being in wars can take a toll and can catch up to you.  It has helped with my training also.  We have brought in Rudy Hernandez who helped with different training methods and the experience he has been through.  I am still learning and becoming a better boxer that will help in those kinds of wars.

 

BOB ARUM:  Let me say this.  If you are watching fights on HBO, there are no more appearance fights.  The fights are competitive.  The fights are hard fights.  HBO pays the most money and they expect their subscribers to get the most value.  It’s not about picking and choosing.  We all know that some like picking an easy fight after a tough fight and you can still do that but HBO isn’t going to pay for it.

 

What is your best chance of winning?

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  Provodnikov is not used to fighting backwards as well.  There are a lot of different training methods we have used as well for this fight.  Boxing will come in handy and there are other tactics we will use as well. This fight is going to be very interesting.  I am going to go in there and use what I worked on for this fight.  Boxing is going to definitely be an option, but fighting is a huge option as well.  This is a must-see fight and anything can happen.

 

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV:  I think that Timothy Bradley and Mike Alvarado are two different fighters.  Bradley is a lot more awkward than Mike is and comparing their boxing styles... I don’t compare them as boxers.  I compare them as two different style fighters.  I think my fight with Alvarado will be more interesting that the Bradley fight because I think there will be more moments of exchanging in this one so I don’t see the point in comparing the two fighters. 

 

What has to happen for you to win the fight?

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  It’s each fighter and how he adapts to how the other fighter is bringing the fight.  Adjustments are huge at this level and that’s where the corner comes in and gives instructions on how to adjust.  Whoever adjusts best will overcome.

 

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV:  Obviously like in any fight, the fighter is going to have to adjust.  But like I said before, whoever has the strongest will is going to win this fight.  Whoever has the most willpower, whoever is stronger mentally is going to win this fight.

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  I’ve been in these kinds of fights before and I know how they can end up.  I am very strong mentally and very strong-willed.  I’ve been there before and need to use my will to make the fight go my way.  I’m ready to put on a great show and ready to win this fight.

 

BOB ARUM:  We all know it’s going to be a great fight.  We don’t have to keep asking the same questions over and over again.  These guys are warriors.  They are going to come to fight.  Yea, there will be some good boxing.  What we are going to see is really a knock-down fight.  You can ask the questions seventeen different ways and the answers are all the same.

 

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV:  A lot of different fighters have had a plan when coming into the ring with me but usually in fights with guys like Mike Alvarado and myself the plan changes after the first punch.  That is my hope for this fight

 

MIKE ALVARADO:  I am ready to go and perform and put on a good show and I hope that everybody enjoys it.

 

**************************************

 

Denver's very own homegrown world champion "Mile High" MIKE ALVARADO will make the first defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim junior welterweight title a "home game", when he battles No. 1 contender the "Siberian Rocky" RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV of Russia, This Saturday!  October 19, at 1STBANK Center in nearby Broomfield, Colo.  This marks the area's first world championship fight featuring a local fighter since September 15, 2000 when former World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Stevie Johnston unsuccessfully challenged defending WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo, via majority draw, at Pepsi Center.  Alvarado vs. Provodnikov will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

 

            Alvarado (34-1, 23 KOs) and Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KOs) enter this world title tilt fresh from Fight of the Year performances that took place in March, just two weeks apart from each other, and were televised on HBO^®.  They boast a combined record of 56-3 (38 KOs) -- a winning percentage of 95% and a victory by knockout ratio of 68%.

 

            Promoted by Top Rank^® and Banner Promotions, in association with Tecate, remaining tickets to the Alvarado vs. Provodnikov world title fight event, priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable fees and taxes, can be purchased online at TicketHorse.com, order by phone at 866-461-6556 and at Tickethorse kiosks located at all Colorado Dick’s Sporting Goods Stores (for credit card purchases only).

 

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.