Ruslan Provodnikov said in a recent Boxing news 2014 that he wants to face the winner of the upcoming fight between Manny Pacquiao and Chris Algieri on November 22 at the Venetian Resort in Macau.
Provodnikov said in an interview with Tha Boxing Voice that he felt he won his fight against Algieri in June, which makes him believe that he deserves a rematch or a shot at Pacquiao.
The 30-year-old Russian, who lost his World Boxing Organization light welterweight title with a split decision loss to Algieri, could have been Pacquiao's next fight opponent, but lost the chance after surrendering his world title.
"Either weight works for me. I'll go to Macau. We are definitely waiting for that fight and we would be interested in fighting a rematch with Algieri or a fight with Pacquiao," Provodnikov said in the boxing news 2014 interview.
Algieri will be having the biggest fight of his career. But win or lose, the 30-year-old will keep his WBO light welterweight title, creating speculation that Provodnikov will likely get a shot at Algieri.
When asked if he is willing to face Provodnikov again, Algieri insisted that he won't have any problem with it because he knows that he is a better fighter than the Beryozovo, Russia native.
"I have no problem with that fight. I didn't fear him before the fight, I'm not going to fear him now," Algieri said in boxing news 2014 update. "I'm not going to fear him now. So if that fight ever materializes, sure. But we have to see what the landscape of the sport is. I don't think I have to prove anything."
The Huntington, New York native, who holds a 20-0 record with eight knockouts, also insisted that he has no doubt he clearly won during his title fight against Provodnikov.
"People who don't think I won that fight, they don't know boxing," Algieri said. "I'm not really too concerned about a rematch. If it happens, if it comes up, and he gets some big, major fights and gets onto this level, then sure, we can fight."
