MANILA, Philippines – The camp of Russian slugger Ruslan Provodnikov badly wants to land a fight with Manny Pacquiao.
That’s according to Freddie Roach, who happens to train both fighters, although he himself admitted having no interest in seeing two of his wards duke it out in the ring.
In a report by Lance Pugmire of The Los Angeles Times, the bespectacled trainer recalled Provodnikov’s manager recently approaching him in hopes of arranging a showdown between the Russian and Pacquiao.
“I still don’t really have interest in that fight, but his manager came begging to me to make it happen,†Roach said, adding he turned to Provodnikov for confirmation.
“And I asked Ruslan, ‘Do you really want to make that fight happen? You’re going to lose me as a trainer, and have a slim chance of winning,’†the cornerman continued.
Provodnikov’s response, according to Roach, was affirmative.
“Ruslan said, ‘Well, we need big fights like that,’ Roach further explained.
Provodnikov will defend his WBO light welterweight title against little-known Chris Algieri this weekend, and if he wins, he stays on the hunt for a Pacquiao bout.
Roach, for his part, said he’ll stick it out with Pacquiao in case the Filipino ends up facing Provodnikov, who is among the shortlist of opponents for the fighting congressman’s return this November in Macau.
Juan Manuel Marquez, Luis Abregu, Amir Khan and Danny Garcia are also candidates, but it’s Provodnikov who has so far been vocal about wanting to face Pacquiao.
“If you want it (Pacquiao fight), I’ll give it to you,†Roach told Provodnikov.