WBO Light Welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov is reportedly eyeing a possible showdown with Mexican boxing legend Juan Manuel Marquez at some point next year, the Russian boxer's manager confirmed this week.
Fresh from a 10-round knockout win over Mike Alvarado to win the WBO Light Welterweight Championship belt, Provodnikov is eager to take on a big name boxer in Marquez in his next fight.
Provodnikov, who is steadily carving a name in American fight business because of his aggressive fighting style, wanted his next bout to happen on his home soil in Berezovo, Russia.
"I'm willing to fight for my Russian fans on a native soil", Provodnikov said in an interview via Boxing Scene.com. "I wish it won't be in Moscow but in my homeland".
Showdown with Marquez
According to his manager, Vladim Kornilov, the Siberian Rocky is hoping for a chance to go toe-to-toe with four-time division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
Marquez, who bowed out to Timothy Bradley via unanimous decision in their WBO Welterweight showdown Oct. 12, has been calling out the undefeated American boxer for a rematch.
However, Kornilov believed Marquez doesn't need a rematch anymore as he clearly lost the bout to Bradley. Instead, he challenged the Mexican boxing legend to fight Provodnikov next.
"First of all, Ruslan should take some rest to recover from these hard fights. Then we want Juan Manuel Marquez. We heard, Marquez said his main aim is to get a rematch with (Timothy) Bradley, cause he was "robbed" there. In all honesty, I think it's just a way to get far-far away from Ruslan. Marquez lost almost all of the rounds against Bradley, there should be no rematch," said Kornilov.
No Pacquiao Bout?
Since scoring a sensational victory against Alvarado, Provodnikov has now been pitted to fight Manny Pacquiao. Scheduled to take on Brandon Rios on Nov. 23, Pacquiao sparred with the Siberian Rocky many times during his previous bouts.
However, both fighters are also trained by five-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach, making the showdown quite impossible to happen.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
