Provodnikov: Pacquiao Not as Hungry, Still Has A lot Left

By Edward Chaykovsky

Former WBO junior welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov will do everything possible to help his close friend and Wild Card stablemate, Manny Pacquiao, as the Filipino star prepares for the biggest fight in boxing against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2nd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Provodnikov agrees that Pacquiao is not the same hungry fighter who was overwhelming opponents several years ago, but he still feels the WBO welterweight champion has a lot of his superstar attributes left in the tank. 

"Maybe Manny is a little bit older, maybe he is not as hungry as he was before but I think he still has the speed and agility. He still has a lot of the qualities he’s had before, and that’s why I think this is going to be a great fight, comparable to Ali-Frazier. It’s going to be one of those great fights no matter what," Provodnikov told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.

"I think Manny is going to give it all in this fight and that’s what it’s going to make it a real exciting fight. I’ll try to make sure that I’m actually present at the fight to root for Manny. It’s one of those fights where you got to say that I was there."