Ruslan Provodnikov, affectionately known by boxing fans as "The Siberian Rocky," is already looking ahead toward a future super fight with Manny Pacquiao. That doesn't mean he's overlooking Chris Algieri, whom he will face on Saturday at Brooklyn's Barclays Center-rather he's planning to be as impressive as possible to make himself unavoidable.
Provodnikov originally aimed to fight Juan Manuel Marquez, who showed very little desire to step in the ring with a mauler like Provodnikov with a limited fan base. After making a name for himself by bludgeoning Timothy Bradley in a close loss, followed by a ruthless knockout of Mike Alvarado, Ruslan's become one of boxing's most avoided men.
Provodnikov plans to "hunt down" Chris Algieri
It does not bother me," Provodnikov said of being ducked. "I'm very loyal to my space in life, and Chris is a great opponent. This is what happened, and this is the way it should have been. I know my time will come."
Provodnikov has said he is all about entertaining the fans, so much so that he has asked for a fight with Manny Pacquiao next even though it means losing Freddie Roach as his trainer for the fight.
"I still don't really have interest in that fight, but his manager came begging to me to make it happen, 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,'" Roach said. "Ruslan said, 'Well, we need big fights like that.' I said, 'If you want it, I'll give it to you.'"
Provodnikov-Bradley rematch a possibility?
That's why Provodnikov is hyper-focused heading into Saturday. He has dreams of not only fighting on the biggest stage possible, but of transforming the Barclays Center into his home away from home. "This is a very important fight to me because it will show how many fans I can attract," Provodnikov said.
"Brooklyn feels like a second home. I hope Barclays Center can become my home arena in the same manner Miguel Cotto has at Madison Square Garden."
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