I mentioned him before in some other thread, he seems a fighter, bit too early to decide if he can be a "player" just yet, in fairness, 140 is as open as it has been in years, so who knows. He's already the wrong side of his mid 20's so he better get a groove on.
I think he can be a player, but he's still at least a year away. He'll have to tighten up his defense considerably, but his offense can certainly carry him as far as he needs for the moment and perhaps just short of the championship level. Good right hand, dedicated body puncher. And I disagree w/ Irish's assessment (shocking, I know ::). He's fairly fresh, decent but not extensive amateur background and has time to get better. It's doubtful he gets a shot at any of the top players this year anyway - that actually works to his advantage. By 2012, he should probably crack the top 10 and ready for guys like Ortiz and Peterson.
There was very little to go on- I basically suggested there is nothing at 140 to really worry the guy, and with the talent pool being so shallow, he can bide his time over the next 2 years. But that leaves him 28, going on 29, so.....only 3 years, maybe 4 at the top. Sounds awfully Hattonish to me.
I guess. But that's if it takes him that long. As for Hatton, there are a few key differences. Provodnikov isn't (or doesn't appear to be) a party animal that spends twice as much time in the bar than in the gym. Also, Ricky didn't fight Tszyu until eight years into his career; Provodnikov is still only four years into his.
Two words: Frunk Werren. Ricky was really well handled, perhaps over-well-handled. Hence the 8 years. Warren timed that fight with Tszyu ....just so.
Oh, I'm not questioning why it took Ricky so long - in fact, I already knew that, as well as that Hatton was openly pissed about the level of competition he was being fed once he hit his prime. Was just pointing out that career-wise, Provodnikov (getting tired of typing out that name, dude needs a nickname!) is still slightly ahead of the curve. He hasn't endured any punishment as a pro, although he'll need to employ better defense if longevity is in fact the goal.
I dunno what atlas is talkin about but chavez taylor wasn't the first fight that sprung to mind if I think of comparing this bout
Ruslan has some very heavy hands. Lets hope to god one day a Provodnikov vs Maidana matchup comes about.
You gotta love it, when highly regarded European prospects come over here and can't even beat our scrubs!
I better get over to Maxboxing.com to get a full, frank, fair and objective report on this fight...... .....oh look, another Mexican-American heavyweight.
Herrera's not that bad, and the fight could've went either way. I admit, was a bit surprised by the fight itself, but still have hope in Provodnikov. Andrade, on the other hand... Honestly, I've been saying from the amateurs that I just don't see what everyone else claims. Not to mention that he still looks like the same fighter from the 2008 Olympics. Maybe his father's the problem, who knows (I'll be damned if I let Teddy have that one ::) but his footwork is terrible, he's passionless when he punches and just seems like every other coddled, protected American former amateur standout to me. But he's made available for interviews, which of course goes a long way with any reporter.
I was speaking Boxingscene to the Irishman,.. not the scribe Clifford Rold or Jake Donovan type of dialect, but rather the dialect of the forum regions.
:: Kauki uses me as a litmus test. He finds bullshit, then squeezes a few drops of 200 Proof Irish onto it to determine the purity of the feces. I could find the bullshit in a Budd Schulberg piece that had been edited by Ernest Hemingway and prefaced by Joyce Carol Oates.
