'Chia' Santana Embraces War With Ruslan Provodnikov

By Steve Kim

After making a successful debut with Top Rank this past weekend, rugged welterweight Francisco 'Chia' Santana says he is more than willing to face Ruslan Provodnikov in 2016.

"I feel like nobody wants him, I'm a throwback fighter that will fight anybody," said Santana after scoring a sixth-round stoppage of Arman Osveypyan at the Civic Auditorium in Glendale, California.

"This is boxing, there's no picking or choosing opponents. In order to be great you've got to be willing to take risks and not just in boxing but in life. If you want to succeed you've got to take risks. I know that's a big risk but I'm ready and I keep hearing on social media that he says nobody is willing to step up ad face him.

"I have a lot of respect for him - for any fighter - I'm ready if he needs an opponent, I could be his opponent, why not?"

Santana, who has a record of 23-4-1(12 KO's) lost to Sadam Ali at the Madison Square Garden in New York on April 25th on HBO. He admits that Ali's mobility and footwork troubled him. But with Provodnikov, it would be a much different style of fight.

"As far as Ruslan and I, that's like two trains colliding. I feel like that would be a good fight for the fans," says Santana.

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.