I just finished watching one of the best fights that I have seen in years. Last weekend we were treated to a highly technical and historical fight in Hopkins vs. Cloud, not one that everyone appreciated but historical none the less. This weekend I was not expecting much. Bradley is a very tough guy and a damn good fighter who was on the receiving end of some very unfair criticism in his win over Pacquiao. Bradley was very emotional in the buildup to this fight about the Pacquiao fight so I thought he was going into this fight emotionally unprepared. Provodnikov was a mystery to me. I had never seen him fight and only knew that he was a sparring partner for Pacquiao. I thought this would be a boring Bradley decision as Provodnikov was coming up in weight it seemed Bradley may be just too much and that this was more of a confidence builder for Bradley.
Boy was I wrong....and thankfully.
Provodnikov came out looking to kill, stalking like a lion his prey. Bradley seemed to concur that this was how things were going to get done, fighting it out like two gladiators in a roman colliseum. Unfortunately for Bradley it did not go so well the first two rounds. Provodnikov hammered Bradley around the ring with relative ease, and actually looked the bigger of the two. Bradley was hurt and did eventually go down, although the referee ruled that it wasn't a knockdown as Provodnikov did sort of push him to the canvas. The second round was so one sided, I would have scored it a 10-8 round for Provodnikov. However, to Bradley's credit, he remained on his feet, and not only that, he kept fighting as if nothing happened. Eventually he took control of the fight as Provodnikov looked like a tired plodding heavyweight looking for one hail mary shot to end things.
This is why in the 7th it seemed as such a shock that Provodnikov nearly ended it again with a sneaky, yet brutal, left hook. Once again, the tough as nails Bradley remained on his feet, seemingly out, yet fighting back furiously off the ropes. The fight was back and fourth from that point on, and before the 11th trainer Freddie Roach told Provodnikov that he had to hurt Bradley or he would stop the fight, yes, it was that brutal. Provodnikov came out and attempted to do just that, come at Bradley with everything he had left, this seemed to appease Roach and he allowed his fighter to enter into the 12th, even though he looked the worse for wear.
Bradley had built up a good lead on the scorecards and all he had to do was survive, and his trainers told him that. Provodnikov was relentless and finally caught up to the iron chinned and iron willed Timothy Bradley, hurting him badly, however this time he was able to put him on the canvas, but it was too little too late. Bradley had too big of a lead on the cards and won a close unanimous decision.
These are the types of fights that end fighters careers. Both fighters took tremendous punishment and Bradley stated after the fight that he knew that he had a concussion early on in the fight. While that is certainly ballsy and brave, it is also stupid and not good for ones mental health. Thankfully for Provodnikov Bradley is not a big puncher and despite Roy Jones insisting that a steady legged Provodnikov was "seriously hurt" he never really did seem hurt at any point. He seemed more fatigued than anything.
This fight should set the tone for what is to come in 2013, this was a classic war that you rarely get to see.
Boy was I wrong....and thankfully.
Provodnikov came out looking to kill, stalking like a lion his prey. Bradley seemed to concur that this was how things were going to get done, fighting it out like two gladiators in a roman colliseum. Unfortunately for Bradley it did not go so well the first two rounds. Provodnikov hammered Bradley around the ring with relative ease, and actually looked the bigger of the two. Bradley was hurt and did eventually go down, although the referee ruled that it wasn't a knockdown as Provodnikov did sort of push him to the canvas. The second round was so one sided, I would have scored it a 10-8 round for Provodnikov. However, to Bradley's credit, he remained on his feet, and not only that, he kept fighting as if nothing happened. Eventually he took control of the fight as Provodnikov looked like a tired plodding heavyweight looking for one hail mary shot to end things.
This is why in the 7th it seemed as such a shock that Provodnikov nearly ended it again with a sneaky, yet brutal, left hook. Once again, the tough as nails Bradley remained on his feet, seemingly out, yet fighting back furiously off the ropes. The fight was back and fourth from that point on, and before the 11th trainer Freddie Roach told Provodnikov that he had to hurt Bradley or he would stop the fight, yes, it was that brutal. Provodnikov came out and attempted to do just that, come at Bradley with everything he had left, this seemed to appease Roach and he allowed his fighter to enter into the 12th, even though he looked the worse for wear.
Bradley had built up a good lead on the scorecards and all he had to do was survive, and his trainers told him that. Provodnikov was relentless and finally caught up to the iron chinned and iron willed Timothy Bradley, hurting him badly, however this time he was able to put him on the canvas, but it was too little too late. Bradley had too big of a lead on the cards and won a close unanimous decision.
These are the types of fights that end fighters careers. Both fighters took tremendous punishment and Bradley stated after the fight that he knew that he had a concussion early on in the fight. While that is certainly ballsy and brave, it is also stupid and not good for ones mental health. Thankfully for Provodnikov Bradley is not a big puncher and despite Roy Jones insisting that a steady legged Provodnikov was "seriously hurt" he never really did seem hurt at any point. He seemed more fatigued than anything.
This fight should set the tone for what is to come in 2013, this was a classic war that you rarely get to see.
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