Provodnikov (18-1) To Meet Popoca (15-0-1) On April 15

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV VS. IVAN POPOCA HEADLINES FIGHT CARD,

TELEVISED LIVE ON ESPN’S “FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS”

Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions, GT & KP Boxing Promotions, Gary Shaw Productions, Patrick Ortiz/Ringside Ticket and Dominic Pesoli/8 Count Productions, in association with the Pechanga Resort Casino, will present a sensational fight card on Friday, April 15, 2011, in the Grand Ballroom at Pechanga Resort Casino, located at 45000 Pechanga Parkway in Temecula, California. The main event, co-featured bout, and other selected fights will be televised live on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes – ESPN’s Spanish-language network – and ESPN3.com, the network’s broadband platform service.

The main event, scheduled for 10 rounds in the junior welterweight division, will feature two fan favorites – both exciting, up and coming young talents: Ruslan Provodnikov, 18-1 with 12 knockouts, of Berezovo, Russia, will fight undefeated Ivan Popoca, 15-0-1 with 10 knockouts, of Chicago, Illinois.

Styles make fights, and a matchup of two aggressive, pressure-style sluggers like Provodnikov and Popoca always produces fireworks in the ring.

Provodnikov, 27 years old, had an impressive amateur career with over 150 fights before making his professional debut in December, 2006. In his last fight on February 20 in Berezovo, he won by third-round TKO against Vyacheslav Yakovenko. In his previous fight in the United States – on January 7 in Las Vegas – Provodnikov headlined on ESPN. He gave a strong performance, but lost a 12-round decision against Mauricio Herrera. It was a fast-paced, rousing battle that many observers thought Ruslan deserved to win.

Popoca, a native of Guerrero, Mexico, had an extensive amateur background, as well, reportedly with 150 fights (137-13). Now 29 years old and a four-year professional veteran, he has won three of his last four fights by knockout.

In the co-featured fight, scheduled for 10 rounds in the lightweight division, former lightweight world title challenger Ji-Hoon “Volcano” Kim, 22-7 with 18 knockouts, of Goyang City, South Korea, will fight Marvin “El Cachorro” Quintero, 21-3, with 17 knockouts, of Tijuana, B.C., Mexico.

Former heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield will also be in attendance at the event. He will be available for media interviews as well as photos and signing autographs for the fans.

More exciting fights will be announced. All bouts subject to change without notice.

Doors open at: 5:00 P.M. (all times Pacific Time)

First fight at: 6:00 P.M.

Tickets prices: $35, $60, $85.

Tickets available at Pechanga Resort Casino Box Office – tel.: 1-877-711-2946, and on the Pechanga website: www.pechanga.com.

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