By Dan Ambrose: Welterweight contender Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO’s) says he’d like to face WBC interim light welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse (34-2, 32 KO’s) in the near future, according to Maxboxing.com.
Provodnikov needs a fight after losing by a close 12 round unanimous decision to WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley last March, and there isn’t one out there for him right now. Had Provodnikov beaten Bradley, he’d have gotten a rematch, but the loss took that away from him and Bradley has been quiet about the idea of fighting him again.
Matthysse stopped Lamont Peterson in the 3rd round earlier this month in a total destruction. He made a very good fighter in Peterson look like an over-matched opponent in knocking him down twice and getting the stoppage. Now, Matthysse will likely be fighting WBA/WBC light welterweight champion Danny Garcia on September 7th. After that, it’s anyone’s guess.
Matthysse could quickly find himself out of well-known opponents unless he can get guys like Amir Khan and Provodnikov to fight him. He’s not going to be able to get fights with Top Rank fighters Mike Alvarado and Brandon Rios due to the Golden Boy Promotions – Top Rank cold freeze. But Provodnikov is a possibility for him because he’s with Banner Promotions and can fight both Golden Boy and Top Rank fighters. He’s in the best position a fighter can be in if he wants to get a big fight.
Matthysse obviously isn’t going to accept a fight with Provodnikov while he’s got a bigger fight on the horizon like the Garcia fight. Matthysse wants Garcia’s two titles and he has a good chance of winning them if Garcia agrees to take the fight.
Matthysse vs. Provodnikov would be a real war with both guys standing and trading shots from the get go. I doubt either one of them would take a backwards step and I think it would be interesting to see who comes out on top in this one.
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