Denver’s homegrown world champion “Mile High” Mike Alvarado and No. 1 contender the “Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov of Russia — both coming off nationally-televised Fight of the Year type performances — will go mano a mano in their world championship rumble tonight in front of a sold out 1STBANK Center audience.
The last tickets were sold on Friday at 9:15 p.m.
So it’s a good thing that Alvarado was able to eventually make weight. Initially, he was 1 pound overweight, and was at risk of losing his titles on the scales. If he couldn’t make weight, he also would have needed to make some monetary concessions to Provodnikov’s side.
Alvarado (34-1, 23 KOs) will make the first defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight title a “home game,” when he battles Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KOs), of Russia, tonight at the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, Colo. This marks the area’s first world championship fight featuring a local fighter since September 15, 2000 when former World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Stevie Johnston unsuccessfully challenged defending WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo, via majority draw, at Pepsi Center. Alvarado vs. Provodnikov will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT. It will be the first time HBO has ever televised a fight live from Colorado.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. with the first bout starting at 5:30 p.m. local time.
Promoted by Top Rank® and Banner Promotions, in association with Tecate, Alvarado and Provodnikov enter this world title tilt fresh from Fight of the Year performances that took place in March, just two weeks apart from each other, and were televised on HBO. They boast a combined record of 56-3 (38 KOs) — a winning percentage of 95% and a victory by knockout ratio of 68%.
