Weekend Preview: Ruslan Provodnikov, Vasyl Lomachenko & More

Weekend Preview: Ruslan Provodnikov, Vasyl Lomachenko & More

By Jonathan SnowdenThe beauty of boxing can be seen in its diversity—of styles, races, nationalities and personalities. This weekend is the perfect example.

Jun 10, 2016 by Jeremy Botter
Weekend Preview: Ruslan Provodnikov, Vasyl Lomachenko & More
By Jonathan Snowden

The beauty of boxing can be seen in its diversity—of styles, races, nationalities and personalities. This weekend is the perfect example. On Showtime, Ruslan Provodnikov and John John Molina will eschew the finer points of the sweet science and collide in a human car crash. Over on HBO, the great Vasyl Lomachenko might as well be wearing a lab coat and carrying a beaker.

Both bouts will be amazing. That's why we love boxing—and you should too.

What follows is a list of every fight card on American television. What is must see TV and what can you skip to watch Archer on your DVR? Who will win and why? Step into the Danger Zone and find out!

Jesus Gutierrez (14-0-1, 4 KOs) vs. Demond Brock (11-3-1, 4 KOs)

Key Info

Date: June 10th
Network: CBS Sports Network
Promoter: RJJ Boxing Promotions
Undercard bouts: Rolando Garza (8-0) vs. Erasmo Garcia (5-0-1), Jeremy Nichols (4-0) vs. Adam Vasquez (5-0-1)
Interest Level: Low


Gutierrez has two majority decision wins and a majority draw on his record in spite of not having fought any serious prospects or gate keepers. This is not a good thing for someone who doesn’t seem to punch very hard . Brock is 35 and from Louisiana —the kind of place Teddy Atlas always warns viewers produces subpar talent. Probably in this case, it has. Expect Gutierrez, whatever you think of his long-term potential, to outwork the opposition and grab a decision win.

Main Event Prediction: Jesus Gutierrez by Unanimous Decision


Willie Monroe Jr. (19-2, 6 KOs) vs. John Thompson (17-2, 6 KOs)


Key Info

Date: June 11th
Network: Sho Extreme
Promoter: Banner Promotions
Undercard bouts: Andrey Fedosov (28-3) vs. Mario Heredia (13-1)
Interest Level: Medium

After Andrey Fedosov obliterates 290 pound Mexican heavyweight Mario Heredia in a couple of rounds, a fight for the real Boxcino championship will finally commence. Monroe Jr. won Boxcino in 2014 and Thompson in 2015. While both have since lost significant fights, you're not going to convince me this isn't pretty cool.

Both fighters have very similar records and levels of opposition—the key here is probably Monroe being a southpaw. Thompson has faced some decent fighters, but only one (Pinell) was a southpaw. Monroe’s losses are also only to punchers, and Thompson really isn’t one of those. Have I talked you into Monroe yet? Because I shot all my bullets.

Main Event Prediction: Willie Monroe Jr. by Unanimous Decision


Ruslan Provodnikov (25-4, 18 KOs) vs. John Molina (28-6, 23 KOs)


Key Info

Date: June 11th
Network: Showtime
Promoter: Banner Promotions
Undercard bouts: Demetrius Andrade (22-0) vs. Willie Nelson (25-2-1), Dejan Zlaticanin (21-0) vs. Franklin Mamani (21-2-1)
Interest Level: High


Neither man will ever ascend to the elite tier of the sport. But that's okay because this main event is built for a war. The winner, whoever it is, will be the less spent of the two. The undercard, by contrast, has two fighters who might one day number among the elites. Andrade and Zlaticanin have a ton of potential, and Andrade in particular is in pretty deep here in a competitive match.

Showtime managed to outdo themselves here, booking a diversity of styles and talent for what looks on paper like a special show. You get boxers, you get punchers, and you get brawlers. I can't ask for much more.

As for the main event: Molina’s refusal to engage with Adrien Broner, even after being tagged suggests that he’s the less fresh of the two men heading in. Provodnikov might take a round or two to get momentum, but once he’s moving forward, he’ll eventually steam roll Molina and get a stoppage.

Main Event Prediction: Ruslan Provodnikov by 9th Round KO



Vasyl Lomachenko (5-1, 3 KOs) vs. Roman Martinez (29-2-3, 17 KOs)


Key Info

Date: June 11th
Network: HBO
Promoter:
Undercard bouts: Felix Verdejo (21-0) vs. Juan Jose Martinez (25-2)
Interest Level: Medium


Fight Math (™) says that the main event is an evenly matched contest that anyone could walk away with. But Fight Math (™) is more often than not consistently wrong. Oddsmakers have Lomachenko way out in front as a favorite and, when in doubt, go where the money goes.

Martinez is facing a boxer, and against boxers, Martinez isn’t so hot. He lost to Ricky Burns and Mikey Garcia, he should have lost to Juan Carlos Burgos, and struggled significantly with Diego Magdaleno and Miguel Beltran Jr. Lomachenko is on a different planet from most of those guys. Martinez won’t be able to slug his way out of toruble against the slick Ukranian Southpaw. But he's just good enough that he’ll probably hang on around long enough to lose nearly every round and hear the final bell.

Meanwhile, Felix Verdejo returns to HBO as the chief undercard attraction and the actual ticket seller here. Hopefully he actually impresses this time!

Main Event Prediction: Vasyl Lomachenko by Unanimous Decision


Phil Lo Greco (27-2, 15 KOs) vs. Joseph Elegele (15-2, 11 KOs)


Key Info

Date: June 12th
Network: Bounce TV
Promoter: Haymon Boxing
Undercard bouts: Antonio Tarver Jr. (4-0) vs. Erik Spring (7-1), Craig Baker (16-1) vs. Steve Lovett (15-0)
Interest Level: Medium

Poor Bounce TV—the matchmaking is good here, in all honesty, but it feels like this will be the forgotten card of the weekend. If ESPN Friday Night Fights were still around, and not about to be permanently replaced with UFC, this would be well suited for that sort of show. Expect some fistic fireworks in the main event between Elegele (who can hit) and LoGreco (who can be hit). Toss up there, but probably wise to pick the guy with the harder chin.

Main Event Prediction: Joseph Elegele by Unanimous Decision