hollywoodtone.blogspot.com Pacquiao's choice of Bradley could ignite Rios-Provodnikov clash
hollywoodtone.blogspot.com Pacquiao's choice of Bradley could ignite Rios-Provodnikov clash
Manny Pacquiao's reported choice of Timothy Bradley as his next opponent for his scheduled fight on April 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada, has created an opportunity for either Brandon Rios or Juan Manuel Marquez to face rising star Ruslan Provodnikov.
Depending on the suspension of Rios for failing to pass the random drug test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) after losing to Pacquiao last Nov. 24 in Macau, China, Provodnikov could end up facing Marquez early this year. Rios has been suspended by China for six months after VADA found out that he was tested positive for stimulant methylhexaneamine, a banned substance which is used as a dietary supplement and also used as performance-enhancing drug. Rios, who suffered two straight defeats after beating Mike Alvarado via TKO in 2012 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, is being promoted by Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions. If the US boxing regulators recognize China's six months suspension of Rios, then he won't be able to fight until after May or June this year. This will leave Arum with very little choice but to turn to Marquez for Provodnikov's first defense of the WBO Light Welterweight title he won from Mike Alvarado last October 19 in Bloomfield, Colorado. The fight could be easily arranged by Arum as both Marquez and Provodnikov are fighting under the umbrella of Top Rank Promotions, Provodnikov's manager, Vadim Korniov, told Boxing Scene that Marquez would have to face Provodnikov if Bradley is chosen by Pacquiao to be his next opponent. "If a compromise is reached and Pacquiao fights Mayweather or Bradley, Marquez will have to fight Ruslan Provodnikov because that would be the only remaining fight for Marquez that people would actually want to see on HBO pay-per-view. Arum has offered the young Russian fighter to be Pacquiao's next opponent but the Filipino star immediately dropped the offer because of his close friendship with Provodnikov, having been a former sparring mate at the Wild Card Gym. Likewise, Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach is also the trainer of Provodnikov, making it difficult for the Russian to switch trainers on short notice. Pacquiao has reportedly chosen Bradley for his April 12 fight in Las Vegas but no official announcement has been made by promoter Bob Arum and adviser Michael Koncz.
hollywoodtone.blogspot.com Pacquiao's choice of Bradley could ignite Rios-Provodnikov clash