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Brutal Slugfest : Timothy Bradley Jr. (USA) and Ruslan Provodnikov (RUSSIA) Full Fight Highlights Though it's only March, and unlikely to be remembered as the fight of the year by December, Timothy Bradley Jr. and Ruslan Provodnikov delivered a thrilling and dramatic slugfest on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. With one heart-stopping moment after another, Bradley managed to survive a brutal beating in the first two rounds and a knockdown in the final 15 seconds to secure a unanimous decision victory, retaining his welterweight world title before a crowd of 3,055. The judges scored the fight 115-112, 114-113, and 114-113, while had it 114-112. It was that close. As important as it was for Bradley to keep his title, it was equally significant that he won over new fans with his display of sheer determination, willpower, and courage. This was Bradley’s first fight after a tough nine months, which began when he won a controversial split decision and the title against Manny Pacquiao in June. That decision was widely criticized, with many fans and pundits believing Pacquiao had won. Bradley became the target of intense criticism, even receiving death threats, despite not being responsible for judging the bout. He was also labeled a “boring“ fighter. But Saturday’s fight, aided by the relentless pressure from Russian brawler Provodnikov, offered Bradley a chance to redeem himself. “I think I got a concussion,“ a smiling Bradley admitted after the decision. “I know I do. This guy is a power puncher, a great warrior. I take my hat off to him. He'll beat any 140- or 147-pounder out there. He's the real deal.“ While Bradley's controversial win over Pacquiao is still fresh in people's minds, his performance against Provodnikov now adds a new chapter to his career. The fight was nearly over early on, as Provodnikov, known for his aggressive style, immediately pressed the action. Bradley, usually more of a boxer, found himself in a firefight from the opening bell. In the first round, Provodnikov landed a heavy right hand that dropped Bradley, though referee Pat Russell ruled it a slip. Replays showed otherwise. Regardless, Bradley was hurt badly and struggled to stay upright as Provodnikov continued his assault. “I came out fast. I wanted to jump on him,“ Bradley explained. “I didn't want him to control the pace. I'm dizzy right now... The warrior instinct kicks in, and it's just heart, determination, and the will to win. Even when I got rocked, I fought hard.“ Still shaky in the second round, Bradley was once again in deep trouble, absorbing more punishment from Provodnikov's right hands and a damaging left hook. The fact that Bradley survived this onslaught was remarkable. As the rounds wore on, however, Bradley began to recover. Provodnikov, having expended a lot of energy, started to slow down, allowing Bradley to get back into the fight by the third round. Though Provodnikov hurt him again in the fourth, Bradley began to win rounds and take control of the fight. Despite Bradley's resurgence, the bout remained a back-and-forth war. The closing moments of the sixth round resembled something out of a movie, with both men trading a barrage of punches. Bradley absorbed so many shots that his trainer, Joel Diaz, threatened to stop the fight. “Tim was hurt in every round because he decided to trade with him, and he paid the price,“ Diaz said. “He wanted a knockout and took a lot of punishment for it.“ Provodnikov, trained by Freddie Roach, took heavy damage as well, with his face swelling and a bad cut opening over his left eye in the ninth round. Roach even considered stopping the fight in the 10th due to the punishment Provodnikov was taking. In the final round, Bradley, against his trainer’s advice to box and move, chose to engage Provodnikov. The Russian landed a huge left hook that sent Bradley reeling across the ring. Provodnikov followed up with a massive right hand, knocking Bradley down with just seconds left in the fight. Though Bradley got up on unsteady legs, the final bell rang before Provodnikov could finish him off. Bradley praised Provodnikov’s power, saying, “He hits much harder than Pacquiao because his punches are shorter and tighter.“ After the fight, Provodnikov, who had moved up in weight for this bout, expressed his belief that he had won.
