Ruslan Provodnikov continues to express interest in facing Manny Pacquiao, who is scheduled to return to the ring on April 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Provodnikov, who is coming off an impressive win over Mike Alvarado in October last year, confidently said that he has a good chance to win against Pacquiao, whom he considers as one of his good friends.
"First, there is nothing wrong with this fight, it is business. Boxing history has shown us many examples where best friends go out and fight with each other," Provodnikov said in a BoxingScene interview. "Although we can't really call ourselves best friends with Manny - we were friends, we knew each other and we were always talking when we met. In that fight with Brandon Rios, Manny showed that I have a good chance to win."
The reigning WBO junior welterweight champion initially expressed no desire to face the Filipino boxing icon before since they are good friends and had sparring sessions before, but the Russian slugger had a change of heart, saying that an opportunity to face a great fighter like Pacquiao should not be ignored.
"The chances are good that we will meet Pacquiao on April 12. As you know, I originally did not want to fight with the Filipino, because we both trained under the guidance of Freddie Roach. Then, while I was on vacation at a resort - I carefully thought about the situation. And I decided that if fate is giving me the opportunity, then I need to use it," Provodnikov previously said.
However, if a showdown with Pacquiao will be finalized, the Russian champion will have to find a new trainer. The 29-year-old slugger share the same trainer with Pacquiao, but the Hall of Fame trainer is expected to choose Pacquiao if ever the two of them collide.
Roach previously expressed hope that Provodnikov and Pacquiao will not cross path, admitting that it will be hard for him to see two fighters, whom he consider as his sons, going up against each other.
The veteran trainer recently said that he wants Pacquiao to face Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero because the 30-year-old American is a former opponent of Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Roach thinks that the highly-awaited Pacquiao vs Mayweather super fight will have a better chance of happening if Pacquiao will score a convincing or a knockout win over the California native.
Aside from Provodnikov and Guerrero, Pacquiao is strongly considering facing Timothy Bradley, who defeated Pacquiao in a controversial fashion during the WBO welterweight title showdown in June 2012.
