By Yuri Tarantin
As BoxingScene.com previously reported, former WBO junior welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov (24-4, 17KOs) is leaving HBO and going across the street to Showtime.
Provodnikov and members of his team have long complained that HBO was unable to persuade Top Rank to match any of their fighters against the 'Siberian Rocky.'
He was targeting many of the fighters in Top Rank's stable, including Timothy Bradley, Jessie Vargas, Terence Crawford and especially Brandon Rios. And while some of those fighters were willing to face Provodnikov, the bouts were never made.
Top Rank's CEO, Bob Arum, explained that Provodnikov had lost several of his recent fights and needed to get a few victories before he could be considered.
All three of Provodnikov's recent defeats were very close decisions in some of the best action fights of the last two years [Tim Bradley, Chris Algieri, Lucas Matthysse].
Provodnikov is a very, very good fighter. But, let's be honest about it....even though he makes real good fights - he's lost three of his last four fights [ editor's note - it's actually three of his last five]. So, you know, I think he has to rehabilitate himself and win some fights and get back into the mix," Arum said.
BoxingScene reported on Monday that Petr Petrov is the frontrunner to face Provodnikov on November 7th, possibly at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru.
