By Edward Chaykovsky, Text by Chris Robinson
Trainer Robert Garcia is fully supporting Brandon Rios' desire to fight WBO junior welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov (23-2, 16KOs).
Rios (31-2-1, 23KOs) is coming off a November decision loss to eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao. Provodnikov knocked out Mike Alvarado to capture the title last October. Alvarado had previously won a twelve round decision over Rios in their 2013 rematch.
Garcia is confident that a win over Provodnikov will catapult Rios to a top tier position after his recent career setback to Pacquiao in Macau, China.
"If he wins that, he's back on top. If he gets the fight he wants, with Provodnikov. If Bob Arum were to ever put that fight together, and Brandon wins that fight - that would be so huge. He will back on top of the world again," Garcia said. "Provodnikov is a dangerous motherf***er. He's a f***ing monster."
