Recently I had the chance to interview former 140lb would champion, Ruslan Provodnikov. A number of topics were discussed including his upcoming fight with seasoned veteran and former world champion, Jose Luis Castillo, his loss to Chris Algieri, his thoughts on a possible fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, his dreams and aspirations for 2015 and much more. Here is what ‘Siberian Rocky’ had to say.
Robert Brown: Talk to us about the upcoming fight you have with Jose Luis Castillo. Does this opponent pose any threat at this stage of his career?
Ruslan Provodnikov: Yes he does. He is a very seasoned and experienced veteran fighter. He has fought some of the best fighters in the world and has created problems for them. How can he not pose a threat to anyone? I’m taking this fight as seriously as any other fight.
Robert Brown: After your disappointing loss to Chris Algieri, looking back, what are some of your thoughts?
Ruslan Provodnikov: I should’ve done better than I did. But I also think that he did get lucky in that fight. I was hoping not to get robbed now that I was a champion. It takes more to take away a world title then to just run the whole fight.
Robert Brown: On the fight, do you feel that you won the fight?
Ruslan Provodnikov: I did not think that I lost, but it’s up to the people that saw the fight.
Robert Brown: Would you like an opportunity at a rematch with Chris Algieri in the future or are you planning to look in other directions?
Ruslan Provodnikov: I would definitely like a rematch with Chris Algieri if he will fight me again.
Robert Brown: Who are some of the names you plan to fight in 2015?
Ruslan Provodnikov: Beginning of next year in the US, possibly a rematch with Timothy Bradley, Brandon Rios, Lucas Matthysse and a rematch with Chris Algieri.
Robert Brown: Recently you have fought both at 140 and at 147. Which weight division do you believe suits you best and which weight division do you plan on campaigning at for the long term?
Ruslan Provodnikov: Either one is good for me. My natural weight division is 140, but I can fight at 147 and also feel comfortable.
Robert Brown: Is there any chance of you fighting Brandon Rios, which most people would consider a great fight with your two styles, would you like to fight him and how do you think that fight would play out?
Ruslan Provodnikov:I would love to fight him; I think it would be a great fight, a real war, and a potential fight of the year candidate.
Robert Brown: If you got the decision against Algieri which many people believe you should have, you most likely would have been fighting Pacquiao, if that opportunity had presented itself, how do you think the fight would have played out between you and Pacquiao, do you hold out hopes of possibly fighting Pacquiao in the future?
Ruslan Provodnikov: Yes I think the fight would happen. We would have to think about how it would play out when it happens.
Robert Brown: Floyd Mayweather had his rematch with Marcos Maidana back in September, did you see the fight and how would you assess the fight?
Ruslan Provodnikov: Yes, it was a good fight, I think Floyd Mayweather is taking more punches than he ever did before.
Robert Brown: What are your thoughts on the growing speculation on the fight happening between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, do you think the fight will happen and who do you think would win if the fight took place?
Ruslan Provodnikov: I really don’t know, boxing is all business now so you never know what happens and what doesn’t. I don’t know who would win, but I definitely think it would be an interesting fight for the fans.
Robert Brown: What is your official prediction for this fight against Castillo?
Ruslan Provodnikov: I don’t make predictions for my fights.
Robert Brown: In closing, what goals do you hope to have achieved by the end of 2015?
Ruslan Provodnikov: I will become a world champion again, you will see.
Ruslan will be back knocking people out
Pac really should of fought Ruslan instead of Algieri, as we know who really won that fight and Ruslan would of made it interesting.
A fight with Rios would be real good to get back on the winning side of things. . Ruslan is still a good fighrter because his fight with algieri was close. i think in a rematch provo knocks algieri out in the 6 round
IF HE WOULD OF GOT CALL IN ALGIERI FIGHT THE FIGHT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN. RUSLAN WOULD OF KO’D PACQUIAO.
ruslan!!!!!!!!!!!!
MAYWEATHER – PAC-WILL HAPPEN WHENEVER MONEY ARRIVES!
What can afford Mayvezer, for others there is a luxury ! То avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. The public is the only critic whose opinion is worth anything at all.