I don't think I've experienced more unease during a Face-Off, even for Cotto-Margarito II. I got the sense that both Alvarado and Provodnikov are ready to die. They're utterly respectful toward one another, and yet, I got the sense that they each wanted desperately to murder the other. It wasn't just uncomfortable. I actually felt a little scared.
I love provodnikovs honesty, saying Bradley beat him, most people in a fight that close, with controversial calls would scream robbery. He's accepted defeat and moved on. Hes a fighter, he looks inside himself and he knows he means it when he says he fights for the people, not the wealth and fame. There's no brashness, there's respect, but there's also authority. When he states he signed the contract and Alvarado made him wait a month, he knows inside he's ready, yet doubts exist inside Alvarado. He isn't worried about losing and missing out on a potential paycheck, he just wants to fight. As rocky said 'it's the way I'm made, we can't change who we are'.
Sucks that both guys will be getting paid peanuts compared to the guys they beat. Alvarado beats Rios and Rios gets rewarded a PPV Pacquiao fight, Ruslan beats Bradley and Bradley gets rewarded a PPV Marquez fight.
Both guys will not be the same after this fight but it's ok Arum and Top Recycle will make sure they get a fight with the guy that will need a desperate win to save his career.
Tim Bradley beat Prod
I cant wait for this fight,,,,
This will be an awesome slugfest, am im rooting for provi***ov..
Use to like alvarado but the more i learn about him outside the ring, the less i like him..
I give alvardo a slight edge due to his experience in brawls and his ability to use the jab to control the brawl, much like in the rios rematch
It was the tension, the mood, all the unspoken things that raise the hair on your skin. The honesty not just of their words, but of their "souls" (if you will). Eerie intensity.
bingo.
provodnikov kept it 100 there and i felt his emotions. no boxer has ever said hes afraid. he did. provodnikov and rado was almost in tears there, telling their whole honest thoughts. their darkest secret of feeling fear which no man ever reveals to another.
I thought you were being sarcastic with the thread title.
I'm not sure what people are talking about... the Face-Off wasn't that great. Provodnikov was good and intense. Alvarado couldn't put a sentence together. Kellerman had to finish talking for him.
I feel bad for Provodnikov because he's going to get ****ed, yet again. No way they give him this fight.
It was the tension, the mood, all the unspoken things that raise the hair on your skin. The honesty not just of their words, but of their "souls" (if you will). Eerie intensity.
best faceoff... nah..... this is the best faceoff ever:
I didn't necessarily think Alvarado-Provodnikov was the best Face-Off, only the most ... I don't know ... unsettling. In terms of pure entertainment, you are correct.
this is like an interview with innocent looking serial killers.
gave me chills. i like both these guys.
provodnikov is a man with nothing to lose. and that presents danger.
I hope he does get more fights. He is exciting but the fact is he's a career ESPN FNF. Not saying as insult but he's been at that level for a reason. Like I said I hope this is the beginning
More better fighters is a good thing
I hear you, but if ESPN can't be used as a national stage to catapult a fighter onto a bigger stage and bigger things, then it should be abolished altogether and they should just take FNFs off. what fighter with high aspirations would wanna fight and put his health on the line if people are just gonna be like "ohhh that doesn't matter. it was an ESPN fight"
I get what you're saying though, I just look at it a bit different. I don't have a problem with guys coming up on ESPN/NBC and if they impress somewhat, give em a chance on a bigger network and see what happens. Provo got his versus Timmy and he showed he deserves to be in the mix.
anyway I absolutely can't wait for these next two weeks. Timmy-JMM and Provo-Alvarado :boxing:
Yeah I agree... I'm not sure why its felt that Provodnikov must be classified as a "career ESPN" guy..... Did he fight most of his career on ESPN? Sure.... but is he a ESPN-level guy? I don't see how you can say yes, he went life and death with Timmy and if he beats Alvarado...... i think its safe to say he has a chance against most fighters.
He's not very skilled but thats not how he fights and there's other ways to win besides pure boxing
I hope he does get more fights. He is exciting but the fact is he's a career ESPN FNF. Not saying as insult but he's been at that level for a reason. Like I said I hope this is the beginning
More better fighters is a good thing
i think its safe to say hes now crossing the threshold into a whole new career.
I think so too. I think Mikey wins this one but I hope Ruslan gets another shot. It's gona be close either way though
i think its safe to say hes now crossing the threshold into a whole new career.
Yeah I agree... I'm not sure why its felt that Provodnikov must be classified as a "career ESPN" guy..... Did he fight most of his career on ESPN? Sure.... but is he a ESPN-level guy? I don't see how you can say yes, he went life and death with Timmy and if he beats Alvarado...... i think its safe to say he has a chance against most fighters.
He's not very skilled but thats not how he fights and there's other ways to win besides pure boxing
Side note: Anyone else feel kind of bad for Alvarado? I know this has been said but he beat Rios and Rios is getting the Pac payday and Alvarado is fighting a guy who is going straight at him and not getting paid nearly as much as he would of versus pac
i think its safe to say hes now crossing the threshold into a whole new career.
I hope so but Alvarado isn't elite either but it'll be fun as long as it lasts. This is one of those fights for me personally. Whoever wins I won't consider a threat to the top boys but together this should be fun
So the Bradley fight did nothing for you?
It was an awesome fun FOTY contender fight. But one fight and being in a FOTY contender doesn't change he's a career ESPN FNFighter.
Provo is a career ESPN FNF it'll show but it'll be fun
He's not skilled and he's limited but his power and style could make him at least somewhat of a threat to anyone he fights.
Haha damn, Ruslan means ****ing business. If I were Alvarado, I'd be plenty nervous about a dude who talks (and apparently thinks) that way.
Still don't know that I can favor Ruslan at 140, but I hope he can come in shape and make this the kind of fight he thinks it will be. I would also love to see Ruslan fight Rios next, irregardless of whether Ruslan loses to Mike. Of course, this assumes Rios will lose to Manny.