By Steve Kim
This Saturday night from the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York, junior welterweight contender Ruslan Provodnikov (25-4, 18KOs) faces John Molina in what will be his debut on Showtime.
In recent years, Showtime's boxing content has extensively featured boxers who are advised by Al Haymon. The hope is that Provodnikov - with his new Showtime contract - will be able to mix it up with his clients.
And Artie Pelullo, the head of Banner Promotions, has a particular match-up he's yearning for - former four division world champion Adrien Broner.
"Adrien Broner, that's the fight we want," he said a couple of weeks ago at the Fortune Gym in Los Angeles, where a media workout was held for this event.
"That's the fight Showtime wants to make, that's the fight we want to make and I believe it can be made because this fights has already been discussed."
The question is, does Broner (32-2, 24KOs) want any part of it?
"I am being told he's willing to do the fight. So we'll see, I don't know that. But if it's not Adrien Broner, there's (Danny) Garcia, there's (Lamont) Peterson,''stated Pelullo, who negotiated this deal for Provodnikov a few months ago.
Regardless of who he'll fight next, if Provodnikov comes out victorious this weekend, his return according to Pelullo will take place in,"October, November. that's the date we're looking for and that's the date we're looking for to fight Adrien Broner."
Broner was last in the ring back in April, getting a ninth round stoppage of Ashley Theophane. Broner lost his WBA 140-pound title on the scales after failing to make the junior welterweight limit.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com
