By Miguel Rivera
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach makes it clear that there will be no hard feelings with Ruslan Provodnikov (23-2, 16KOs) - if the WBO junior welterweight champion accepts a fight with Manny Pacquiao on April 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Roach trains both fighters, who are good friends and have sparred with each other several times in the past. But if the fight happens, Provodnikov admitted in an earlier article on BoxingScene.com that he intends to find himself a new coach - since Roach will be working Pacquiao's corner.
"They are good friends, but sometimes things like this happen in boxing. I won't be mad at [Provodnikov] if he fights Pacquiao. Things like this happen [in boxing]," Roach told Espada Deportes.
Roach trains both boxers. Provodnikov, along with WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley, are the frontrunners to face Pacquiao (55-5-2, 38KOs) on the April date.
Because of various circumstances, the fight might actually happen. Pacquiao would rather face Floyd Mayweather or Juan Manuel Marquez, with Roach stating - "Mayweather and Marquez don't want to fight Manny."