Matthysse vs. Provodnikov: Both fighters ready for Fight of the Year-style bout Saturday

Photo Credit: Golden Boy Promotions
Photo Credit: Golden Boy Promotions

As the world waits for the May 2 Floyd MayweatherManny Pacquiao bout, a possible fight of the year candidate looms weeks before the biggest fight to take place in quite some time.

The hard hitting match up between Lucas Matthysse and Ruslan Provodnikov takes place Saturday,  at the sold out Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York and will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark  beginning at 9:45 p.m. EDT/PDT, and because of the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout getting near, it has for the most part, been lost in the shuffle.

Matthysse (36-3, 34 KOs) has been ready to fight anyone, and is up to the challenge of facing a fighter who has as much of a chance to knock him out as he does to KO Provodnikov.

I have been training non-stop, way before the fight was officially announced,” Matthysse said. “I have been doing a lot of sparring to improve my speed and make sure I make as much contact with my opponent as possible.”

Ready for a slugfest himself, Provodnikov (24-3, 17 KOs) is ready to leave it it all in the ring, in order to out pummel the always dangerous Matthysse.

I am excited and motivated for this fight, I will not disappoint my fans and it will be a real war,” Provodnikov said. “Everything is going great with my training and will be ready for a really war in the ring.”

Knowing good and well that Prodnikov loves to exchange with his opponent, as made evident in the 2013 Fight of the Year against Timothy Bradley, not staying still is a focal point of his training camp.

“Ruslan is a great fighter, he comes prepared for a war,” Matthysse said. “My strategy against him will be to make sure to box and keep moving, that is why sparring has been really important in my training.”

Looking to add to his Fight of the Year list, Provodnikov is ready to do it again, as he respects Matthysse, and his ability to scrap with the best of them.

“I will be ready for whatever Matthysse does.  I 100 percent believe that this fight will be the fight of the year<” Provodnikov said. “I always give everything I can in training camp and I’m very responsible. I don’t take anybody lightly, but to answer your question: walking into the ring with a fighter that I know will fight back will definitely show that what I can do as a boxer than going up against a fighter who will just run.”

Confident that he will out punch a fellow power puncher, Matthysse is ready to put on a career-defining performance Saturday night.

“Fans can expect one of the greatest fights in the division,” Matthysse said. “I know I am ready to win this fight and fans should expect a victory.”

Echoing Matthysse’s statement, Provodnikov guaranteed that the bout will be satisfy the fans expectations of what should be a brutal affair this weekend.

I promise this is going to be the fight you guys are all waiting for,” he said.