BROOMFIELD, Colo. (AP) — Ruslan Provodnikov stopped Mike Alvarado after the 10th round to take the junior welterweight title Saturday night.
Provodnikov (23-2) knocked down Alvarado twice in the eighth round with a series of punches near the ropes and finished off an exhausted Alvarado (34-2) late in the 10th. The fight was halted by referee Tony Weeks, who asked Alvarado a few times if he wanted to continue and Alvarado responded that he didn’t.
Promoter Bob Arum, who represents Alvarado, said his boxer might have suffered a concussion.
Not even chants from the home crowd could lift Alvarado, who grew up in Denver.
Provodnikov didn’t have trainer Freddie Roach in his corner. Roach remained in the Philippines to work out with Manny Pacquiao, who fights Brandon Rios next month in Macau.
