Boxing News: Lucas Matthysse vs. Ruslan Provodnikov Set On April 18, 2015

Lucas Matthysse of Argentina and Ruslan Provodnikov of Russia are set to meet on April 18, 2015 in a junior welterweight clash at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

"A dream match comes together when two men fight who are seemingly each other's worst nightmare and that's a litmus test this fight passes," Peter Nelson, HBO Sports vice president of programming, said in an official statement. "On April 18, HBO Boxing After Dark will present Argentine Lucas Matthysse against Russian Ruslan Provodnikov in a fight promising to be so highly combustible that just the lights turning on should set the ring ablaze."

In the same release, Provodnikov admitted that this is the particular fight that he is looking forward to and that the bout will have a chance to become the year’s “Fight of the Year” and also will have the “Knockout of the Year”. For his part, Matthysse agreed that the fight has the potential to become the best in 2015 and that he’s confident that he can win against Provodnikov.

Provodnikov has a win-loss-draw record of 24-3-0 with 17 knockouts while Matthysse is at 36-3-0 with 34 knockouts. Provodnikov is just 2-2 in his last four bouts with wins over Jose Luis Castillo and Mike Alvarado and losses to Timothy Bradley Jr. and Chris Algieri. Matthysse is 3-1 in his last four bouts with wins over Roberto Ortiz, John Molina Jr., and Lamont Peterson and a loss to Danny Garcia. Despite the recent losses, the pair are known for their exciting style and potential to end fights early with their power punches.

Boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions was also excited about the Matthysse-Provodnikov fight saying that “one-punch knockout power” of both fighters will make the fight an exciting one. The 31 year old Provodnikov, who is from Beryozovo, Russia is nicknamed the “Siberian Rocky” while the 32 year old Matthysse, who is from Trelew, Chubut, Argentina, is known as the “La Maquina”, or translated to “The Machine”.

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