Who is Pacquiao’s next foe Ruslan Provodnikov?

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao has figured in a few exhibition bouts, but not like this one. 

Pacquiao, 47, returns to the ring in April as he faces Russia’s Ruslan Provodnikov in a battle of former world champions, although the result will have no impact on their professional boxing records.

It will be Pacquiao’s second outing since he came back from a four-year retirement in July 2025, when he fell short of capturing the WBC welterweight title following a majority draw with Mario Barrios.

Pacquiao, boxing’s only eight-division world champion, had been eyeing to fight WBA welterweight titlist Rolly Romero this year, but talks fell through. 

So, who is Provodnikov? 

World contender

Although Provodnikov is younger than Pacquiao at 42, he had a relatively short professional career for a boxer of his caliber, as he competed only from 2006 to 2016. 

He took part in 30 bouts and won 25 of them, with most of his losses coming at the tail end of his career. 

At the peak of his powers, Provodnikov contended for world titles, and he finally became a champion when he wrested the WBO light welterweight belt from Mike Alvarado through a stoppage win in their 2013 clash. 

The crown stayed with Provodnikov for only months, however, as he suffered a controversial split-decision loss to Chris Algieri in his lone title defense in 2014. 

Provodnikov alternated wins and losses in his next four bouts, fighting for the last time in 2016 in a unanimous decision defeat to John Molina Jr. 

Three of Provodnikov’s five losses were against foes whom Pacquiao beat: Algieri, Timothy Bradley, and Lucas Matthysse. 

Getting his first crack at a world title, Provodnikov absorbed a closely contested unanimous decision defeat to then-champion Bradley for the WBO welterweight belt — their action-packed bout earning the 2013 Fight of the Year honors. 

Then, a year before he hung up his gloves at the age of 32, Provodnikov fell to Matthysse via majority decision in 2015. 

Like Pacquiao, Provodnikov transitioned to politics after his professional career, becoming a congressman in his hometown of Beryozovo. 

Familiar foe

Pacquiao and Provodnikov are no strangers to each other.

In fact, Provodnikov served as Pacquiao’s sparring partner in preparation for the Filipino’s defense of his WBO welterweight title against Bradley in 2012.

Provodnikov even flew to the Philippines and joined Pacquiao’s training camp in Baguio City for a couple of weeks. 

“Right now, it’s a big story of my life, and it’s a big experience, and I see the level and the attention that Manny is getting,” Provodnikov said in an interview with Top Rank Boxing in 2012. 

Pacquiao eventually lost via unanimous decision, relinquishing the belt he had held for three years before recovering it two years later, in 2014, when he pulled off a unanimous decision win over Bradley in their rematch. 

Aside from being sparring partners with the “Pacman,” Provodnikov trained at the famed Wild Card Boxing Gym in Los Angeles, USA, under Pacquiao’s longtime coach, Freddie Roach. 

Provodnikov also worked with Filipino trainer Marvin Somodio, who helped Pacquiao gear up in his comeback fight against Barrios. 

Aggression and power

Called the “Siberian Rocky,” Provodnikov made a name for himself as a relentless fighter who possessed intimidating punching power.

Of his 25 victories, Provodnikov won 18 by knockout, and he never lost by stoppage. 

Bradley even acknowledged that Provodnikov’s power eclipsed that of Pacquiao, whose 39 of his 62 wins came by knockout. 

“When he landed that right hand on me, I thought my life flashed before my eyes. He hit me so hard on the chin, right on the chin. Most guys will crumble, and I’m in great shape, so my legs didn’t give out on me. Thank God,” Bradley told FightHype. 

“I felt like I got hit by a sledgehammer.”

The damage Bradley, a two-division world champion, endured from Provodnikov proved to be career-altering. 

“After my fight with Ruslan Provodnikov, I wasn’t the same fighter. The amount of damage that I took in that single fight alone, I was not the same fighter. I wasn’t able to take shots on the chin regularly. I was getting hurt by small guys during training camp,” Bradley told ProBox TV.

Whether Provodnikov still packs a punch will be known when he tangles with Pacquiao on April 18 in Las Vegas. – Rappler.com