By Steve Kim
This much is clear: a clash that will match junior welterweight standouts, Ruslan Provodnikov and Lucas Matthysse, which will be televised by HBO, has been consummated. March 28th was originally set as the date for this fight which is so eagerly anticipated by the hard-core boxing fans.
Both Banner Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions - who are co-promoting this event - wanted this fight to take place at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA, which has become a consistent host for boxing the past decade or so. But word is that this site is unavailable and that it's Al Haymon who has reserved this date (for a fight card which has neither been finalized or announced).
There have been efforts to find an alternate venue in Southern California by the organizers of Provodnikov-Matthysse only to find that such facilities as the Forum and USC's Galen Center were booked on this particular date. Golden Boy is making a last ditch plea to AEG( which runs the StubHub Center) to secure this coveted venue for March 28th.
A decision will be made - one way or the other - by early next week and alternate sites are being pursued. They range from such locales as Miami, Las Vegas and Verona, New York with the Turning Stone Resort Casino. With this possible shuffling, there's a very good chance that this fight will be moved into mid-April.
Provodnikov-Matthysse, will happen. It's just a matter of when and where.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.
