Bad Left Hook Live Results and Coverage: Ruslan Provodnikov v. Ivan Popoca

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 5:52 PM EDT in Live Boxing Coverage (Round-By-Round)

Provodnikov-popoca_medium

Friday Night Fights is back to its normal 9pm EDT start time tonight, and we'll be here to talk some fights. This one was better on paper a couple of days ago before Ji Hoon Kim pulled out of the co-feature, but the main event should be a decent scrap.

Ruslan Provodnikov (18-1, 12 KO) returns to the Friday Night Fights airwaves for the first time since his January loss to Mauricio Herrera. The 27-year-old Russian looks like Kostya Tszyu and fights a little bit like him, but I think it's safe to say that though he's generally entertaining, he ain't Kostya Tszyu. The good news, of course, is that he is generally entertaining.

His opponent is Ivan Popoca (15-0-1, 10 KO), a 29-year-old Mexican based in Chicago. In fact, Popoca has never fought outside of the Chicagoland area, so this trip to the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif., will be something new for him. Provodnikov is a huge betting favorite, and with good reason. Popoca hasn't really fought anyone of note, with his best win being either Hector Alatorre or Jose Luis Soto Karass (not Jesus Soto Karass), and he hasn't faced a fighter coming off of a win since 2008. Provodnikov would have kept that streak up, but he took a get well fight in Russia in February. For all intents and purposes, Popoca is an unknown quantity, and it's up in the air what Provodnikov is in for tonight.

In the co-feature, Marvin Quintero (21-3, 17 KO) faces Juan Santiago (13-6-1, 8 KO), a second late-notice opponent. Quintero was to face Ji Hoon Kim in what could have been a super scrap on paper. Kim was originally replaced by Gabriel Tolmajyan, but that's off, too. Santiago is a 26-year-old junior welterweight out of Colorado who has dropped his last two, but you might remember him from a ShoBox last May against Vernon Paris, where he pushed Paris to a split decision over eight.

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Man, whom at ESPN does Provodnikov have incriminating photos of?

What’s the fascination?

Plodding Russian fighter plods, is Russian.

Most people don't know shit about boxing. At all. Period. - Roger Mayweather

by The Kittitas Kid on Apr 15, 2011 6:25 PM EDT reply actions

The promoter has a deal with ESPN

They get like 3 or 4 shows a year and put him and Kim on most of them. Can’t remember the name of the promoter off the top. Smaller one. But it doesn’t hurt that Ruslan usually makes exciting fights.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Apr 15, 2011 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I should look at the damn flyer

Banner Promotions. But since FNF has such a small budget, generally they just parse out their shows among a bunch of promoters who get a set number of cards a year. Prize Fight is another one, which is why Fernando Guerrero and Shawn Porter are on FNF so much. A lot of these smaller promoters make their cash by building up a fighter’s name and then splitting revenues with a bigger promoter if they hit the big time. For instance, the Peterson brothers are both still officially with Prize Fight, even though they’ve been promoted by Top Rank and GBP as well at one point or another.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Apr 15, 2011 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Low-budget ESPN2 show has low budget, is on ESPN2.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

$50k per card

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Apr 15, 2011 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, that’s why I’m thrilled when they manage to get a legitimately relevant fight on top, like Peterson-Cayo coming up. Not that that’s some GREAT FIGHT, but it matters at 140. And those guys are fighting for beans.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Looking forward to that one too

by The Boxer Rebellion on Apr 15, 2011 8:04 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I'll try to make this my first FNF of the year

If I can stay awake

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Apr 15, 2011 6:49 PM EDT reply actions

The relentless Siberian is upon us, more or less.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Apr 15, 2011 9:06 PM EDT reply actions

I'm over here first

http://www.badlefthook.com/2011/4/15/2114062/bad-left-hook-live-results-and-coverage-omar-narvaez-v-cesar-seda

But I’ll be back in for the main event (and I have FNF on mute on the TV for now)

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 9:07 PM EDT reply actions

well that one didn't last

Guess we’ll be getting some swing fightage on FNF

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 9:21 PM EDT reply actions

undercard start?

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Apr 15, 2011 9:31 PM EDT reply actions

yeah first fight ended in 3

Now it’s swing fight time.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions

So am I right in gathering that Provodnikov isn’t having much trouble so far? My glances over have seen him landing clean almost every time.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

I gave Popoca r2

I have it even.

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Apr 15, 2011 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions

thanks

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions

This one is picking up now.

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Apr 15, 2011 10:21 PM EDT reply actions

Ruslan’s mouth is hanging open.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Apr 15, 2011 10:22 PM EDT reply actions

Good action early in R3. Provodnikov lands a couple good rounds in the middle rounds to win R3. I have it 29-28 for the Siberian.

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Apr 15, 2011 10:23 PM EDT reply actions

Provodnikov doing a better job leading with his jab than when I saw him in January.

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Apr 15, 2011 10:25 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah he looks far more controlled than he did in that fight.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions

gracious

That was a lotta bombs.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

if he had more pop popoca would be out of there by now.

by Sammlung on Apr 15, 2011 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Popoka LOOKS like he's moving, but he gets hit a lot

by davecwright on Apr 15, 2011 10:31 PM EDT reply actions

sorry, Popoca

by davecwright on Apr 15, 2011 10:31 PM EDT reply actions

Nice

Good finish to that round. Provodnikov landing bombs galore. Another fun fight from the Siberian.

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Apr 15, 2011 10:31 PM EDT reply actions

Boy, Popoca is game and Provodnikov is not the smartest guy ever.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 10:33 PM EDT reply actions

Provodinkov is a little gassed right now…

by Sammlung on Apr 15, 2011 10:33 PM EDT reply actions

Say “fight” again, Dan.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 10:35 PM EDT reply actions

does dan ever have real insight? I have no idea why he’s espn’s boxing guy.

by Sammlung on Apr 15, 2011 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

This is a company that employs and promotes Skip Bayless and Woody Paige. They had Joe Morgan on their No. 1 baseball team for years.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s a totally consensus guy, but his reporting’s good.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Apr 15, 2011 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

GOOD GOD

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

and that'll do it

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

good stoppage, obviously

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 10:42 PM EDT reply actions

Some brutal punches there, damn.

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Apr 15, 2011 10:42 PM EDT reply actions

headsnappers.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Apr 15, 2011 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Is there any other decent live fighting going on right now?

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Apr 15, 2011 10:44 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t know about decent, but Solo Boxeo is on for an extra-long show at 11:30, I think.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Apr 15, 2011 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions

no idea who’s fighting on it tonight.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Apr 15, 2011 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Eloy Perez v. Alejandro Rodriguez

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

thank you--

I’ll watch that.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Apr 15, 2011 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm watching the replay of Donaire Conception on Showtime right now, will probably switch to solo boxeo later.

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Apr 15, 2011 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

They’ve officially moved to the new longer format. I’d appreciate if they’d have a decent main event once in a while instead of just expanding how long the show is.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, yes. But sometimes Something (anything) is better than Nothing.
Meanwhile, Cheato is still recovering from broken-facedom. I don’t think he’s going to be the same guy.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Apr 15, 2011 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Guy who are gonnna stand there get killed

Provodnikov reminds me a bit of Arthur Abraham…
Is that crazy?

by davecwright on Apr 15, 2011 10:47 PM EDT reply actions

except he doesn't cover up

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Apr 15, 2011 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Ruslan’s mouth is still wide open at ringside

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Apr 15, 2011 10:55 PM EDT reply actions

lol

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Apr 15, 2011 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

you know

Go figure.

I’ve been watching Solo Boxeo on the internet all year. Turns out I have a Telefutura affiliate. In HD. Great job knowing what you pay $230 a month for, Scott.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Apr 15, 2011 11:04 PM EDT reply actions