HBO Fight Preview

Ruslan Provodnikov vs. Lucas Matthysse

Saturday night on HBO is a can't miss fight between Ruslan Provodnikov and Lucas Matthysse.  This is the type of fight that big time boxing fans beg their friends to watch because it has the potential to be the type of fight that converts casual fan into true boxing heads with an addiction to the sport.  Hyperbole be dammed, this fight is going to be fantastic.  Matthysse was involved in Big Time Boxing's 2014 Fight of the Year and Provodnikov was one part of the 2013 winner.  This bout is scheduled to go 12 rounds in the junior welterweight division and has a chance to become an all-time classic.

Provodnikov takes years off opponents lives

Provodnikov is the type of fighter no one wants to face, mainly because he seems to destroy careers.  Provodnikov doesn't care about wins or losses the only thing he cares about is making electric fights that have fans standing and cheering.  Don't expect to see many jabs from the Russian known as the "Siberian Rocky," because he doesn't throw many.  Instead he comes forward in the orthodox stance behind a rock solid chin and iron will.  Provodnikov loves to crush the body and he does so beautifully with left hooks and right hands.  What makes Provodnikov so dangerous is that he cuts off the ring well and never seems to get hurt.  On top of that when he senses his opponent is hurt he goes in for the kill like a man hunting big game to feed his family.

Provodnikov does have some losses on his record, three to be exact, but the last two were both controversial.  The first came against Timothy Bradley in the 2013 Fight of the Year, and the other was against Chris Algieri in a fight that could have been stopped, making Provodnikov the winner.  Still the Russian has an impressive record of 24-3 and his 17 knockouts don't seem to do him justice.  When you talk about fighters who have faced Provodnikov you need to do it in a biblical sense, like B.C. and A.D., but instead it would be B.P. and A.P. for before Provodnikov and after Provodnikov.  Fighters like Bradley and Mike Alvarado have not looked the same since facing Provodnikov, neither has Algieri, and the argument can be made that the Russian has the ability to ruin careers because he takes life out of opponents, something Matthysse hopes he can avoid.

Matthysse's power is his best weapon

Matthysse is known as "La Maquina" or "The Machine" and that is because he is a knockout machine.  The Argentine fighter does his work out of the orthodox stance and like Provodnikov, he is extremely aggressive.  Matthysse doesn't use his jab often but it is a solid punch and he likes to follow it up with a nice straight right hand.  However, the dangerous punches from Matthysse are of the crooked variety.  The overhand right from Matthysse is a great punch but it is his left hook that can turn an opponents lights out or have them writhing in pain if he bangs it to the body.  

Like Provodnikov, Matthysse has some losses on his record but they were all close fights.  Matthysse lost to Zab Judah and Devon Alexander, both by split decision, and both in the other fighters hometown.  He then lost to Danny Garcia in a fight it looked like he was taking over until he eye swelled completely shut.  Still Matthysse has been impressive with a record of 36-3 with an almost unfair 34 knockouts.  What remains to be seen is if Matthysse can floor Provodnikov for the first time in the Russian's career.

People who call themselves boxing fans should be punished if they miss this fight, that is how great it has the chance to be.  Both Provodnikov and Matthysse are killers who stalk their prey before beating it to a bloody pulp.  Matthysse certainly carries more power but Provodnikov lives for fights like this and has never been on the canvas.  Mathysse has been dropped three times in his past three fights so he can't just open up without worrying about return fire.  Also, Provodnikov may not want to come straight ahead without throwing a jab because if he does Matthysse may make him pay.  This is a fight where the winner almost doesn't matter because the action promises to be so good that neither fighter really loses.  

PREDICTION: This is a 50/50 fight that could easily end up a win, loss, or draw for either fighter.  Lucas Matthysse may have the slightly sharper skills but Ruslan Provodnikov has the will to survive and thrive late.  This will be an absolute slugfest that stays close the entire fight but Provodnikov will look better in the championship rounds and win a close split decision.

Terence Crawford vs. Thomas Dulorme

If you need further evidence that everyone expects the fight between Ruslan Provodnikov and Lucas Matthysse to be a classic just look at the fact that Terence Crawford, the best lightweight in the world who is moving up to junior welterweight for the first time is not the main event but the co-feature.  HBO will be putting on a split site doubleheader and Crawford will be taking on Thomas Dulorme in a 12 round bout for the vacant WBO junior welterweight title.

It will be Crawford's first fight at 140 lbs.

As a lightweight Crawford was able to impress fans with his incredible skills.  He is billed as an orthodox fighter but often switches to southpaw and may be even better as a lefty.  Crawford's defensive ability and ring intelligence don't make things any easier for his opponents and he seems to do everything at a high level.  As a southpaw Crawford shows a great jab and right hook and when he switches and fights in the orthodox stance his left hook and straight right hand are dangerous.  It seems no matter how you try to box Crawford he has the tools to adapt and beat you.

Crawford is moving up to 140 pounds after cleaning out the lightweight division.  He will be putting his perfect record of 25-0 with 17 knockouts on the line come Saturday night and it will be interesting to see how well he does moving up in weight.  The scary thought is that he may look better than ever now that he doesn't have to struggle to cut weight.  2014 saw Crawford be named Big Time Boxing's Fighter of the Year and he will certainly look to find similar success in 2015.

Dulorme has moved from prospect to contender

Dulorme is a skilled orthodox fighter who has fast hands that can hang with the speed of Crawford.  He has a very good, long jab and his straight left hand is an accurate weapon.  Dulorme also carries with him a very nice left hook, but he does tend to get wild which leaves him open to be countered, something Crawford will certainly take advantage of.  Dulorme needs to not get wild with his punches and stay disciplined against Crawford.

Dulorme should have the size advantage come Saturday night.  Not only is he two inches taller than Crawford but he has fought as high as welterweight so he is physically bigger than Crawford is.  As a pro Dulorme has only one blemish, a brutal stoppage loss to Luis Carlos Abregu back in 2012 that sent Dulorme down a division and back to the drawing board.  As of now Dulorme has a record of 22-1 with a solid 14 knockouts, and a win over Crawford could make him a star.

If HBO's main event is a battle of hard hitting brawlers the co-feature is a battle of skills.  This fight should be more of a chess match than a demolition derby and the sweet science will certainly be on display.  It will be interesting to see how Crawford handles a new weight class and also how Dulorme handles the toughest test of his career.

PREDICTION: Thomas Dulorme is a skilled fighter capable of giving many opponents a difficult night but he is not at the same level of a Terence Crawford.  The fight won't be a total blowout and Crawford will have some uneasy moments in his new weight class but he will prevail and win the fight by the way of unanimous decision.