Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Saturday, October 19, 2013, Colorado welcomes back championship boxing after nearly 13 years when “Mile High” Mike Alvarado takes on the “Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov.
The 12-round bout is being fought for Alvarado’s WBO Jr. Welterweight belt and will be shown live on HBO starting at 9:45 pm, EST.
The main undercard will not be televised, but features former world champion, Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz as he continues his quest to become a champion once again.
Read on for Round By Round Boxing’s staff predictions for each fight.
Click here to view the staff’s records up to this point.
Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Diaz vs. Santiago
Gabe Rivas, Contributing Writer
Juan Diaz has returned to Top Rank and is on the path to being a world champion once again. However, this path is paved with the likes of Juan Santiago, a man who has has lost five of his last six fights. Top Rank is looking to build up Diaz with fighters such as Santiago and if he prevails, he will likely be fighting for a world title really soon. This looks like an easy win for him.
Prediction: Diaz
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
Juan Diaz’s opponent–Juan Santiago–has 10 losses. I see this as a way to get back into the limelight and a stepping stone fight to bigger and better things for Diaz.
Prediction: Diaz
Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
This will be the Baby Bull’s third comeback fight. This seems like a stay busy fight while Juan Diaz works out the kinks after a three year layoff. I will be interested to see how Diaz looks overall. Are his legs there? I don’t see Santiago having a chance in this one.
Prediction: Diaz
Alex Burgos, Editor in Chief
Juan Diaz recently stated that the reason he signed with Top Rank is because they want to work with him and help him build back to championship status as opposed to being a stepping stone or gate keeper for other fighters. I think this is a good progression fight and should tell us where Diaz is at in his comeback. He said he would like to challenge for a title in 2014 and I expect him to be impressive in against an over-matched opponent like Juan Santiago.
Prediction: Diaz
Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Alvarado vs. Provodnikov
Gabe Rivas, Contributing Writer
Alvarado has proved that he can comeback from a loss, change his game plan, and beat the only man who has beaten him. Although his boxing skills aren’t perfect, he did enough to keep Brandon Rios off of him to walk away with a decision. Furthermore, he has learned that there are some people he should not trade with. If he watched the Bradley-Provodnikov fight, then he knows what to expect and he knows that he must box this Russian monster. Alvarado can take a punch, but he cannot risk taking too many from Provodnikov.
Prediction: Alvarado
Rob Anthony, Contributing Writer
Ruslan Provodnikov is coming off of a spell binding performance against WBO champ Tim Bradley where he had “Desert Storm” looking helpless and flailing away while on the ropes. Mike Alvarado is coming off of back to back wars with Brandon Rios, where the two split victories. Both fighters are now trying to move into the elite territory of Junior Welterweight fighters. Mike Alvarado’s height and reach advantage will keep Ruslan Provodnikov off of him with a good, stiff jab. Plus, his wars with Brandon Rios have showed us that he can exchange with anyone and come out on top. But, he has to be very aware of Provodnikov’s power. If Provodnikov can get Alvarado into a trading war, I don’t think Alvarado has the boxing skills the likes of Tim Bradley to get out of trouble. Alvarado wins a boxing match, Provodnikov has a great chance to win in a sloppy fight that takes place in the pocket.
Prediction: Alvarado
Juan Carlos Burgos, Contributing Writer
The main event has potential to be one hell of an action fight. If “Mile High” Mike sticks with the plan and is more boxer puncher than brawler, I see this playing out similar to his rematch vs. Brandon Rios. What he can’t allow himself to do is to sit and trade with Ruslan Provodnikov. Provodnikov will need to make this more of a slugfest to give himself the best chance at winning. I think Alvardo will employ a nice stick and just enough movement.
Prediction: Alvarado
Alex Burgos, Editor in Chief
Mike Alvarado proved a lot of doubters wrong in his second fight with Brandon Rios earlier this year. He is in fact disciplined enough to use his boxing ability and better judgement against a stalking brawler. He’s undoubtedly got a fighting spirit and doesn’t mind trading on the inside, but the addition of Rudy Hernandez–who is helping long standing trainer Shann Vilhauer–has helped tremendously and I think will extend his career. Simply put, Ruslan Provodnikov is a beast. I think he’ll make it uncomfortable for Alvarado at times, but in the end “Mile High” is a notch above the Siberian Rocky in terms of skill.
Prediction: Alvarado
