Provodnikov began moving backward in the fourth, perhaps looking for different angles, as Torres came forward, jabbing and landing sporadic shots. Provodnikov looked for openings to land (but missing mostly) uppercuts toward the end of the round.
Provodnikov, a notorious bleeder, and Torres both began to show swelling, bruising and cuts on their faces in the fifth round.
Torres made some fans at the onset of the sixth by landing several straight shots on Provodnikov, who seemed to be playing possum against the ropes. Provodnikov came back to land a wicked left, then a hard right hand, sending a busted-up Torres to the canvas.
Torres showed a big heart, engaging in a firefight with Provodnikov, who landed a left-hand bomb that leveled the Mexican for good. Referee Robert Howard immediately halted the bout at 2:53 of the sixth round.
With the win, Provodnikov picked up the WBO Inter-Continental super lightweight belt.
In the co-feature bout, Korea’s Ji-Hoon “Volcano” Kim, 23-7 (18), came off a confidence-building win nearly a year ago to decision a game Yakubu Amidu, 20-3-1 (18), in a lightweight 10-rounder.
TV-friendly due to his lack of defense, Kim took some quick shots early in the first round from the taller Amidu. Showing off his late-round rally style, Kim came back to land hard hooks to the head and body getting back in the fight against the defensive Amidu in the final seconds of the frame.
Amidu concentrated on the body of the squared-up Kim throughout the bout, being extra careful against the long-armed Korean. After taking shots against the ropes, Kim broke free before pressuring Amidu and landing a couple of head shots to the bell.
Kim’s right hand, his best weapon, began finding its mark in the third, rocking the game Amidu early. The mobile Amidu was willing to trade and, in turn, got nailed by Kim’s wide shots late in the round. Both men traded furiously, Amidu to the body and Kim wherever he could land a shot.
Amidu would do well for most of the next round, going to the body and outboxing the pressuring Kim. Kim struck late in the round by landing head-snapping shots, sending a tired-looking Amidu back to the corner after the bell.
Amidu, who showed some foot movement earlier in the fight, chose to stand his ground, playing a dangerous game against Kim in the next two rounds, with Kim absorbing an accidental headbutt in the sixth frame. Kim, who had been outhustled, opened up and closed strong in the final seconds of the stanza.
Amidu displayed a very sturdy chin, taking hard shots by the Korean banger, who ended up with a cut above his left eye by the end of the seventh round as both men traded furiously in the fast-paced battle.
Kim should have gone to the body earlier but did so in the ninth round. Amidu stayed in the pocket, flashing his superior speed, although the Korean banger kept throwing heavier shots.
As expected, Kim came out hard in the 10th and final round, dropping shots to the body, as Amidu concentrated upstairs. Both pugilists let it all go until the bell to end the contest.
Scores were 96-94, 98-92 and 97-93, all for Kim.
In other results, cruiserweight Garret Simon, 6-0-1 (5), blasted out Marcus Dickerson, 4-4-2 (2), 55 seconds into the first round.
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