By Victor Salazar
When BoxingScene.com last reached out to Ruslan Provodnikov’s (24-4, 17 KO’s) manager, Vadim Kornilov on news of a possible Brandon Rios-Ruslan Provodnikov bout, the manager said there was nothing to report.
BoxingScene recently reported that Brandon Rios (33-2-1, 24 KO’s) would likely return on a November 7th HBO date with Vasyl Lomachenko slated as the co-feature. In terms of Rios’ opponent, it doesn’t look like Provodnikov is in the lead to land the fight according to his manager.
“I don’t think Top Tank will have any of their fighters fight Ruslan (Provodnikov), I think it's set in stone,” Kornilov told BoxingScene.com
Korilov makes reference to the two times Provodnikov was in with a Top Rank fighter. Provodnikov defeated Mike Alvarado in his home state of Colorado in October of 2013. Prior to that, many felt he had a gripe in defeating Timothy Bradley in their fight in March of 2013 which was named the BWAA fight of the year.
“Anybody but Ruslan,” stated Kornilov in reference to Top Rank’s disapproval of Provodnikov as a possible opponent for their fighters. “After Bradley and Alvarado which were both great fights no matter who won, they don't want to fight Ruslan.”
Kornilov feels Rios wants the fight but his promoter and manager are protecting him. He feels fans, promoters, and managers should want what’s best for the sport and that’s great fights.
“Even with Pat Russell’s help, Tim Bradley won, but that was still fight of the year which is what the promoters should want. Rios vs. Provodnikov is another one of those fights, but Rios's representation are way protective.”