Bradley says Russian foe punches harder than Pacquiao
Stretched to his limit by feisty challenger Ruslan Provodnikov Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) in his first defense of the World Boxing Organization welterweight title, American Timothy Bradley Jr. was thoroughly impressed by the Russian’s punching power.
In fact, Bradley claimed, Provodnikov punched much harder than Manny Pacquiao.
Putting his WBO title on the line for the first time since seizing it over Pacquiao via a controversial split decision last June, Bradley had to survive two knockdowns (although one was ruled a slip) and an audacious stand by Provodnikov before settling for a close unanimous decision victory at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
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Judges Jerry Cantu Marty Denkin scored the tightly-fought contest 114-113 for Bradley while Raul Caiz Sr. also favored the American 115-112.
"He's much more powerful than Pacquiao," the 29-year-old Bradley (30-0, 12 KOs) was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "He hits harder, and has shorter punches. He's a great puncher, and I take my hat off to him."
The 29-year-old Provodnikov, who once served as one of Pacquiao’s sparring partners, suffered his second loss in 24 bouts but his stunning performance against Bradley spoke volumes of his potential.
In an article posted at boxingsecene.com, the Russian, who broke down in tears in his locker room after the bout, felt he was “the clear winner.”
“I hurt him. I knocked him down. I don't know what else to do. It's up to the judges but I think I did everything in there to prove myself. I did not feel his punches at all. I went after him the whole 12 rounds,” he said.
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Even his trainer, the legendary Freddie Roach, is convinced the Russian should have won the fight.
“I definitely felt there should have been three 10-8 rounds. I thought the first, second, and twelfth should have been scored 10-8,” Roach was quoted as saying by Ryan Burton, also of boxingscene.com.
Roach, who also figured in a heated ‘word-war’ with Bradley prior to the bout, added Provodnikov will keep on fighting at the 147-pound division.
“He's definitely staying at welterweight. Making 140 pounds was killing Ruslan and it definitely affected his performance. He's 100 percent better at 147. That's where he is going to fight from now on,” Roach told Burton.
Even Bradley, who experienced a concussion in the intense bout, said the Russian would be a force in the welterweight division.
“No doubt, this guy is a power puncher. He's a warrior. He'll beat any 147-pounder out there. One of the punches in one of those rounds concussed me. I'm dizzy right now. At some point, that warrior instinct kicks in, the determination, the will to win, and that's what I counted on'', Bradley was quoted as saying by another boxingscene.com writer, Edward Chaykovsky.
This early, Roach disclosed Provodnikov may battle the winner between Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado in their rematch on March 30 (March 31 in Manila) at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
SLIDESHOW OF THE FIGHT:
