A little birdie tells me that there is a 90% chance that Provodnikov-Rios happens.

I'm kinda glad. I'd like to see Provo fight Crawford. And I'd like to see Rios fight a name guy at 147. But not Bradley f*ck that. I wanna see Bradley fight someone other then a latino. Preferably Kell Brook or someone under Haymons banner Will probably add a few years to their careers too

forget hbo if showtime was smart they would pick up this fight.provo vs rios is huge showtime needs a big fight like this they have had a terrible year. Showtime doesn't need Rios-Provodnikov (if they had to get that fight, to lock in a more exclusive deal with Banner Promotions- Provo/Andrade/Algieri/etc), so why even bother with that fight, especially at the price that Top Rank is likely to require (Rios didn't go to the UK for the Brook fight because of the rematch clause and the purse, and Hearn has stated that the Rios offer was seven figures. Showtime has massively expanded the ShoBox portfolio (in addition to CBS also airing 5 "championship boxing" level cards so far this year), and Showtime Championship Boxing still delivers a decent number of fight cards as well. Why would Showtime ever shell out $2m for a fight card that gives them no ties to either fighter?

I've spoken to the same source since and it seems that both fighters are mulling over other options and this fight might not be "next". Apologies for getting everyone's hopes up. :( I'm kinda glad. I'd like to see Provo fight Crawford. And I'd like to see Rios fight a name guy at 147. But not Bradley f*ck that. I wanna see Bradley fight someone other then a latino. Preferably Kell Brook or someone under Haymons banner

that is true but i think their budget re ups in like november We'll see, but I doubt it.

I've spoken to the same source since and it seems that both fighters are mulling over other options and this fight might not be "next". Apologies for getting everyone's hopes up. :(

i love bam bam, but i don't see him beating provo. provo took everything lucas threw at him and didn't go anywhere. it will be awesome while it last I agree with this.

Rios is one slugfest away from brain damage or early set Parkinson's. I do give Rios the fact he is one tough individual but I'm not sure how he will do against someone who bangs more than damn near his whole resume and someone who is gonna be there the whole fight, not boxing 50% of the time. I remember when he got buckled by Alvarado and later claimed "he didn't hurt me"... Provodnikov has the power to put you away including if your trying to go head to head with him. Rios is good but I believe the power and skill is in Provodnikov's favor.

This is completely false. Rios has been posting on social media how the ruslan fight is the only fight he wants Rios' twitter does have a lot of posts that suggest he wants Ruslan. Also saw on there that Bradley turned down the fight, which strikes me as a surprise.

This is a fun fight to watch but Rios is the heavy favorite here, he has to be. He's the bigger guy and Ruslan's face reminds me of Gatti. He busts up super easily which will affect him a bit. Again he's also the smaller guy and in a war like this it'll make a difference. I'd have to go with Rios in this.

Man someone is going to get brain damage after this fight.

The ultimate slugfest!! Lucas banged with Ruslan but boxed him up at some points to avoid damage. Can't knock him at all for that. That fight was still a war! This one right here though will be violent as f*ck!! No bullsh1t!! It'll be be brutal!!

I certainly hope they're getting paid well however this is the epitome of savagery and we luv it. Agreed. Don't know how much more savage it can get from the Bradley fight though. Barley himself said brain connections were severed.

This is completely false. Rios has been posting on social media how the ruslan fight is the only fight he wantsreally how come ruslan has been calling rios out for years and rios is always silent? Im just saying it seems to me like ruslan is chasing after him.

i love bam bam, but i don't see him beating provo. provo took everything lucas threw at him and didn't go anywhere. it will be awesome while it last

Provo actually has the balls to face Rios and isn't a notorious bum-magnet like Brook who ducked Rios of all people and instead tried to fight a Rios leftover!

rios doesn't want to fight ruslan for some reason. This is completely false. Rios has been posting on social media how the ruslan fight is the only fight he wants

May the source be with you... Good effort :lol1: HBO's budget is apparently so tight that Bradley-Ali isn't going to get picked up, and neither fighter's promoter (Banner, Top Rank) have access to any other TV dates that would even remotely make sense . Unless Pacquiao's "injury recovery" has him in line to fight on a Nov/Dec PPV, I don't see where'd they'd put the fight to air; Brandon Rios and Ruslan Provodnikov are both coming off main eventing their own HBO cards. There may be talks underway somewhere, but the notion of the fight being eminent doesn't make much sense. HBO exec did say a few days ago that this fight was a priority and they know that it would definitely get viewers to tune in.

forget hbo if showtime was smart they would pick up this fight.provo vs rios is huge showtime needs a big fight like this they have had a terrible year. Nah. Espinoza just approves whatever garbage Haymon comes up with. We all know that if these fighters happened to be controlled by Haymon, they will never fight. And they will be avoided like plagues by his top fighters. In a perfect world, fans would have loved to see them pitted against Garcia, Broner, Peterson, Alexander, Porter, even Thurman, Brook, Khan... Provo is not even signed with TR and HBO. There was a time when he was looking for a dance partner when he wanted to fight in Russia. He called out everyone, including Haymon fighters. Matthysse was the only guy who responded to his call, "Yes, I'll fight Provodnikov."

Lucas and Bam back to back?!?...Provo is a f*cking WARRIOR!!...I can't pick a winner cause neither of them has shown the ability to step back and box...this will be a toe to toe phone booth brawl....FOTY...not FOTY candidate but a definite FOTY...give them the award now!!...DAMN!!...this fight will be super sick!!

Yeah boiiii let's go :boxing: Provo gonna stop this dude.