Photos: Matthysse, Provodnikov Brutal War Mega-Gallery

By Victor Salazar, photos by Ed Mulholland/HBO

Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, New York - In a very anticipated battle of dangerous junior welterweight contenders, and it lived up to the hype and then some, Lucas Matthysse (37-3, 34KOs) started very strong and survived some very scary moments in the final three rounds to win a twelve round majority decision over former WBO champion Ruslan Provodnikov (24-4, 17KOs). Judge Don Ackerman scored the fight 114-114, while judges John McKaie and Glenn Feldmen scored the bout 115-113 in favor of Matthysse.

Matthysse begin the fight well with a game plan of jabbing combined with a right hand. Provodnikov ate shots as he tried to find openings and trying to cut of distance from Matthysse subtle movements.

In the second round Matthysse started to stand his ground firing combinations while Provodnikov continued to try and find an entry inside while eating uppercuts for his trouble. A hard combination caused a cut outside the left eye of Provodnikov. Blood and all - Provodnikov pressed forward backing Matthysse up.

Matthysse saw blood and thought that there was a possibility to go for the kill.

“I saw him cut and bleeding, so I thought I was going to knock him out,” Matthysse said after the fight was over.

But just like their entrance music there was a rock against a Rocky. Matthysse landed at distance but when Provodnikov could get inside, he gave Matthysse a taste of his own medicine. Matthysse planted and landed and then circled but could he do it for twelve rounds?

“I was pacing myself because I knew he was a tough fighter and this could definitely have gone the distance,” stated Matthysse on the speed of the fight.

In a round that could compete for round of the year, the fourth saw Provodnikov land a monstrous right hook and then a left hook that stopped Matthysse’s movement with a thunderous overhand right added into the mix as well. For his trouble, Provodnikov ate a big uppercut landed from distance from Matthysse.

Matthysse dominated the sixth round at a distance by smothering Provodnikov when he got on the inside. Through the midway point of the fight, Matthysse landed big, moved and clinched when he could to stop Provodnikov from getting inside. Provodnikov would wale left hooks because he couldn’t effectively get inside.

Provodnikov’s cut was under control until Matthysse reopened it in the seventh round. The fight kept going at Matthysse’s pace and distance. At times it seemed Provodnikov seemed reluctant to throw because of what Matthysse was firing back with.

“He was the hardest puncher that I ever faced,” stated an upset Provodnikov. But said an open cut was not going to stop him from trying to get the victory. “Every time I come to the train I never stop the fight, the only time I ever stop a fight is on my back.”

Matthysse landed 327 punches out of 1,034(32%) thrown. According to CompuBox, it was the most he has thrown in the 16 bouts tracked by CompuBox. Provodnikov landed 201 punches out of 755 thrown (27%).

Provodnikov showed some comeback in the ninth landing a big right hand a left hook that hurt Matthysse to end the round and it seemed that the tide may have been turning in the favor of Provodnikov. “I just wanted to win the fight no matter how it come, by knockout or however it came,” explained the Siberian Rocky.

Matthysse controlled the majority of the tenth jabbing in combination with right hands. Provodnikov got Matthysse to the ropes and corner but majority of the time, Matthysse would find a way out without much damage.

In the eleventh there was a break in the action due to loose tape on the glove of Matthysse. The break too extremely long and it benefitted Provodnikov who attacked Matthysse hurting him with a left hook.

“He did hurt me. In the eleventh round he hit me on the side of the head and it did hurt me,” Matthysse stated on the punch that put him in trouble.”

The two men hugged in the twefth to start the round and then ensued to punish each other instantly as the time close went off. Matthysse backed off with Provodnikov pressing forward. Provodnikov maybe looking for the knockout that wouldn’t come as both men reached the final bell.

Matthysse took the decision and told the press ringside, “I’m ready for the next fight, I want the winner of Mayweather-Pacquiao.”