IN search of an opponent since figuring in a draw with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in July 2025, Manny Pacquiao has apparently decided to settle for a “fight” with a former sparring partner.
On April 18, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, Pacquiao will lace on the gloves again for a ten-round scrimmage with former WBO junior welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov of Russia.
Yes, it is only a scrimmage. An exhibition fight to be exact.
In an exhibition, the outcome of the contest will not be reflected in the records of the boxers.
For a fight that is only an exhibition, a 10-round duration is too long.
In most cases, an exhibition is only good for three or five rounds. Ten rounds of suppressed action may end up being an absolute bore.
Of course, the “exhibition” tag can easily be removed if the boxers decide to make it a real fight. Had the fight taken place some 15 years ago, it would have been a slam-bang affair.
Provodnikov totes a record of 25-5 with 18 knockouts. He started boxing at age 10 after carving out a reputation as a street fighter. After figuring in around 150 amateur bouts, he turned professional in 2006.
As a pro, Provodnikov went unbeaten in his first 17 fights before dropping a decision to Mauricio Herrera in January 2011.
In March 2013, Provodnikov battled American Tim Bradley Jr. for the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) championship. Provodnikov lost on points but gave a tremendous effort. He almost knocked out Bradley in the final round. So brutal was the fight that Bradley suffered from a concussion.
Provodnikov trimmed down to the junior welterweight (140 pounds) class in October 2013 and collared the WBO junior welterweight diadem with a ten-round stoppage of American Mike Alvarado.
Provodnikov’s reign at 140 pounds was short-lived, as he yielded the WBO crown to Chris Algieri in June 2014.
In 2016, Provodnikov decided to archive the gloves after having lost four of his last seven fights. Provodnikov’s last fight was a decision loss to John Molina Jr. in June 2016.
Away from boxing, Provodnikov dabbled in politics.
As of late last year, he serves as a lawmaker in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area in Western Siberia, focusing on regional development, building gyms, and supporting youth sports. Provodnikov is aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In 2021, Provodnikov contemplated on returning to boxing. He shelved the plan to focus on politics.
After 10 years in hibernation, Provodnikov is set to return to the squared circle, albeit only in an exhibition fight opposite Pacquiao.
Nicknamed the “Siberian Rocky,” Provodnikov was a ferocious pressure fighter/slugger during his prime years. He offered a granite chin and threw punches from all angles.
Obviously, Pacquiao is using the Provodnikov exhibition to stay in shape as he waits for the availability of the marquee names in his weight class.
It will be recalled that Pacquiao released a video last year announcing a January 2026 return to the ring. This fizzled out after negotiations for a fight with WBA welterweight champ Rolly Romero hit a snag. Romero was obligated to make a mandatory title defense against Uzbekistan’s Shakram Giyasov.
The WBA already ordered Romero to make this fight, making it difficult for the latter to jump directly to a fight with Pacquiao.
The name of old rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. also cropped up, but Mayweather opted for an exhibition fight with former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. The hesitancy of Mayweather to put his unbeaten 50-0 record on the line is making a fight with Pacquiao difficult to put into place.
In May 2015, Mayweather beat Pacquiao in the richest fight in boxing history.
Pacquiao was lukewarm to the idea of a rematch with Barrios.
Pacquiao, though, may be interested if Barrios comes up with an impressive win over American Ryan Garcia in their scheduled fight on Feb. 21.
A victory by the flamboyant and hard-punching Garcia may also merit Pacquiao’s attention.
While it is Provodnikov who is coming off a ten-year inactivity, the Russian is still the younger fighter compared to Pacquiao.
Provodnikov is only 42 years old while Pacquiao turned 47 last December.
Unless the “exhibition” tag is removed, Pacquiao-Provodnikov will be a tough sell. Boxing fans want to see a real rumble, not a waltz.