Provodnikov likely Pacquiao foe

Ruslan Provodnikov of Russia AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — If Juan Manuel Marquez decides to nix a fifth fight with Manny Pacquiao, Russian Ruslan Provodnikov will become the top candidate to take his place.

Promoter Bob Arum said during the post-fight conference of Marquez-Mike Alvarado that Provodnikov, the World Boxing Organization light welterweight champion, is an attractive alternative if Marquez opts to waive his right as mandatory challenger to WBO welterweight king Pacquiao.

Marquez earned a crack at Pacquiao, whom he knocked out in the sixth round of their fourth fight in 2012, after posting a lopsided unanimous decision over Alvarado in Inglewood, California, recently.

According to Marquez, he will rest and relax  with his family in Mexico before deciding on whether or not to tangle with Pacquiao again on Nov. 16 in Macau.

Marquez’s chief trainer, Nacho Beristain, is said to be trying to dissuade the former champion in four divisions from going through a fifth fight with Pacquiao.

Though Provodnikov, a former sparring partner of Pacquiao, balks at the idea of battling his Filipino friend, Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach said he believes the tough Siberian, if given the chance, will ultimately give in to the lure of big money.  Estimates put Provodnikov’s probable purse   against Pacquiao at $3 million upwards.