ESPN’s Friday Night Fights: Provodnikov & Kim in Co-Main Events January 27
Atlas Predicts Provodnikov to Win by Knockout
ESPN’s Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra will feature two top contenders — junior-welterweight Ruslan Provodnikov (20-1, 13 KOs) and former lightweight world-title-challenger Ji-Hoon “Volcano” Kim (22-7,18 KOs) — in co-main events on January 27 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN3 from Airway Heights, Wash.
On ESPN2, Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will be ringside at the Northern Quest Casino describing the action, while studio host Bernardo Osuna will present all the latest boxing news and highlights. ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates (Friday Night Fights) will present Friday’s card with Pablo Viruega and Delvin Rodriguez calling the fights and Leopoldo Gonzalez and Lindsay Casinelli anchoring the studio. The card is presented by Banner Promotions.
Russia’s Provodnikov, who is coming off a 12-round decision over former WBO junior-welterweight champion Demarcus Corley, will face hometown favorite David “El Torito” Torres (21-2-2,13 KOs).
Atlas: “Provodnikov is a good body puncher, strong guy, pleasing to the eye and makes good fights. I like him to win this fight by knockout.”
Friday’s co-feature will pit South Korea’s Kim against Yakubu “The Black Mamba” Amidu (17-2-1,15 KOs). Kim is coming off a 10-round decision over Dong-Hyuk Kim, while Los Angeles’ Amidu is coming off a third-round TKO over Martin Tucker.
Atlas: “Ji-Hoon Kim will probably have to come back in this fight. He gets caught early, but has a huge heart. When he does win, he finds a way to come back. He puts himself in difficult positions, but puts us in a good position because we are watching some interesting fights.”
