Tonight on HBO World Championship Boxing Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley will defend his WBO welterweight title for the first time since defeating the legendary Manny Pacquiao last June for the belt, he will take on tough Russian boxer Ruslan Provodnikov, and two undefeated welterweight boxers will go head to head when Jessie Vargas takes on Wale “Lucky Boy” Omotoso in a 10-round non title opening bout, all of this takes place live on March 16 from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
Bradley (29-0, 12 KOs) hasn’t fought since his controversial victory over Manny Pacquiao in June of 12, he will return to the ring eager to make a statement and defend his title against another Freddie Roach trained fighter, Ruslan Provodnikov (22-1, 15 KOs). Provodnikov is a very tough Russian boxer who helped Manny Pacquiao get ready for his fight against Juan Manuel Marquez and is now being trained by Freddie Roach. Roach believes his fighter will pull off the upset and take the title from Bradley, but Bradley and his trainer Joel Diaz feel Roach and Provodnikov will go home empty handed.
In an intriguing match-up, two undefeated welterweights Jessie Vargas (21-0, 9 KOs) and Wale Omotoso (23-0, 19 KOs) will risk their unblemished record as they face off in a 10 round bout. Vargas used to be trained by Roger Mayweather but now works with Oscar De La Hoya’s former trainer Robert Alcazar, Omotoso is originally from Nigeria but trains out of the Wild Card Boxing club in Hollywood with Freddie Roach.
Watch Timothy Bradley vs. Ruslan Provodnikov, Jessie Vargas vs. Wale “Lucky Boy” Omotoso live Saturday March 16 on HBO World Championship Boxing at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.
