In ESPN2’S Friday Night Fights main event from Airway Heights Wa., Light Welterweight Ruslan Provodnikov (now 21-1, 14 KO’s) won the vacant WBO Intercontinental Title with a 6th round TKO over a very game David Torres. While the fight lacked the same type of fireworks as the co-feature, every punch thrown by both men had knockout intentions on them. In the opening round, a straight right to the chin sent Torres down for the first time in the fight.

The fight looked to be over early, but Torres was ready to make a fight of it, surprising Provodnikov, along with the crowd, with a few countering shots to the head that paused the Russian’s forward movement.

As the fight progressed, Provodnikov remained patient, slipping the majority of shots Torres would throw, then come back with his own, each having a big affect on Torres. Torres would land a few more surprising shots, but he was slowly wearing down as Provodnikov was not willing to back an inch. The end came in the 6th round when another straight right sent a bloody faced Torres down for a second time, this time he was slow to his feet. Provodnikov pressured Torres to the ropes where a right, left, right combination connected to the head, sending Torres down and out. Referee Robert Howard immediately waived the fight off at 2:53. Torres falls to 21-3-2 with 13 KO’s.
 

In the co-feature, Lightweights Ji-Hoon Kim (now 23-7, 18 KO’s) and Yakubu Amidu fought a 10 round, non-stop, action fight. There was hardly a dull moment throughout as both let their fist fly. Kim’s punches appeared to have a bigger toll on Amido who staggered near the end of a few rounds, but Amidu held his own and landed some great body shots of his own that sent Kim to the ropes to defend more than once.

In the end, it really came down to Kim being the busier of the two, winning a unanimous decision on scores of 96-94, 97-93 and 98-92. Amidu falls to 20-3-1 with 18 KO’s.
 

Heavyweight Garret Simon improved to 6-0, with 5 KO’s with a one round, one punch KO over Marcus Dickerson. The fight looked to be a mismatch going in as Simon towered over Dickerson at 6”5’.

Simon landed a glancing blow to the top of the head that sent Dickerson nearly through the ropes and down for the full 10 count. Dickerson falls to 4-4-2 with 2 KO’s.
 

Heavyweight Bruce Cole improved to 2-0, with 2 KO’s, making short work of pro debuting Jake Wilson, stopping him with a solid shot to the body that kept him down for the count. Wilson looked like he wanted no part of Cole from the moment the entered the ring. Every time Cole threw a punch, Wilson flung his arms out to block them, and retreated. Wilson should really think if boxing is the right career choice for him, because it clearly is not.
 

Heavyweight Shane Andreesen improved to 12-3 with 7 KO’s by decision Raphael Zumbano Love through 8 dull rounds. Anderseen’s punches would snap Zumbano’s head back a few times and grab the audience’s attention, but the two really put on a slow fought sparring match. Zumbano falls to 31-5-1 with 24 KO’s.
 

Super Middleweight Mike Gavronski remained unbeaten at 6-0 with 5 KO’s, stopping tough, but awkward, Matt Palmer in 3 rounds. Through the first two rounds Gavronski landed some powerful shots that would baffle any viewer how Palrmer had not gone down, as his spaghetti legs managed to keep himself up. In the 3rd, however, Palmer finally staggered enough times that he finally fell to the canvas.

A bloody faced Palmer made it clear he wanted the fight, even stating so to the referee, throwing what shots he could. Palmer even landed a few counters on Gavronski that grabbed everyone’s attention, but Gavronski was just too much, as the referee rescued Palmer who was beginning to take too many shots against the ropes. Palmer falls to 2-4.
 

In the final night of the evening, Welterweight Justin Jones (now 4-0, 2 KO’s) received a gift from the judges, winning a unanimous decision over Nalo Leal that was just a clear cut robbery. While Leal is on the losing end of over 77% of his fights, and high on the list of fighters who should retire, Leal did his best and appeared to have won at least 3, if not all 4 of the rounds, clearly out-landing, even out-maneuvering Jones.

With former Lightweight Champion Greg Haugen in his corner, Jones was just not letting his hands go enough to win any rounds, and it was no mystery why his corner was the loudest of the two, yelling for him to start punching. Final scores were 38-38, 39-37 and an atrocious 40-36. Leal falls to 4-14-1.