Pacman returns in Las Vegas exhibition vs Russian Provodnikov

February 22 ------ MANNY Pacquiao is set to climb the ring again two months from now in a 10-round exhibition match at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The 47-year-old Filipino boxing legend will take on former world light-welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov in a welterweight match that comes after Pacquiao’s failed bid to wrestle the WBC welterweight crown from Mario Barrios when he went out of retirement last year.

Now 42, Provodnikov, from Berezovo, Russia, himself will be fighting for the first time since retiring 10 years ago following a unanimous decision loss to John Molina Jr. in New York City. Provodnikov, who briefly reigned as WBO champion in 2013, was once a stablemate of Pacquiao with MP Promotions and was trained as well by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach.

In his entire career with a record of 25-5 (18 KOs), the Russian has always been known as a pressure fighter who boasts of a fearsome punching power. He won his first and only world title with a 10th round stoppage of Mike Alvarado in Colorado in 2013, but lost the WBO crown in his first defense, a controversial split decision against Chris Algieri in June of 2014. Provodnikov initially fought for a world championship against Tim Bradley for the WBO welterweight title, but lost a close unanimous decision in a 2013 bout adjudged as the Fight of the Year.

Incidentally, Pacquiao also fought Algieri and Bradley during his legendary career. Pacman scored a lopsided unanimous decision against Algieri, knocking him down six times in a WBO welterweight title match in Macau. Pacquiao and Bradley fought in a trilogy, with the Filipino twice beating the American via unanimous decision, including his last fight as a pro in 2016. Boxing’s only eight-time world division champion holds a record of 62-8 with 39 KOs.

He only managed to draw with Barrios when he attempted a ring comeback last year at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, as he fell short of his bid to reset his own record as the oldest fighter to win the welterweight crown. Prior to his comeback fight, Pacquiao also fought in exhibition matches following his retirement against Korean martial artist DK Yoo (2022) and former K-1 super lightweight champion Rukiya Anpo (2024). The exhibition fights were held in Korea and Japan, respectively.

Source: spin.ph