Provodnikov Hitting Verona, Showtime

His landing on the Showtime launching pad has been in the works for over a year. It was put off, when HBO won the bid to show Ruslan Provodnikov/Lucas Matthysse, but soon, The Siberian Rocky will bring his money back guarantee to the Sho side.

Come June 11, Provo will bring his promise of violence, and ample eyeballs, to Showtime.

Promoter Art Pelullo told me that yes, he’d listened to talk of a Provo vs Terence Crawford fight. But the money and the longer term prospects made more sense within the Showtime sphere, he said. “I think my guy knocks out Crawford…but Stephen Espinoza was instrumental in seeing this through. Credit to him. And after this, there are so many good fights there…Broner, Garcia, etcetera.”

Saturday, June 11 – SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
Main Event: Ruslan Provodnikov (25-4, 18 KOs) vs. John Molina Jr. (28-6, 23 KOs) – 12-Rd Super Lightweight Bout
Start Time: 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
Venue: Turning Stone Casino – Verona, NY
Promoter: Banner Promotions
Induction Weekend for International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Main event features two fighters involved in Fights of Year