Joel Diaz understands boxing fans who say Timothy Bradley has no business fighting Ruslan Provodnikov

marcos villegas and joel diaz

When Timothy Bradley vs. Ruslan Provodnikov was announced as a headliner at The Home Depot Center, boxing fans scratched their hands and wondered, “Who the heck is Ruslan Provodnikov?” The Russian who is set to face Bradley is a unknown to all but the hardcore of boxing fans. A stalwart of ESPN Friday Night Fights, Provonikov sports a record of 22-1 and has served as one of Manny Pacquiao’s chief sparring partners. Though even with the credentials of belonging in the ring with someone the likes of Timothy Bradley, fans are still asking and still wondering, why is Timothy Bradley fighting Ruslan Provodnikov?

Head trainer of Team Bradley Joel Diaz understands where the fans are coming from, “I agree but there is nothing I can do about it. I understand the fan point of view and it is bad because Tim comes from a mega fight with Manny Pacquiao and now we are going to fight Provodnikov.” Bradley did have options in Lamont Peterson and Robert Guerrero though realistically Peterson was the only legit choice. Rather than have to fight a fighter whom he dominated once more, Bradley ultimately settled with Provodnikov in a fight that is meant to remind everyone that Timothy Bradley, despite what happened in the Pacquiao fight last June is still a top ten pound-4-pound and “undefeated” fighter. He has to win, and he has to win big on March 16th in order to steer fans back in his corner and have the ghosts of the Pacquiao fight finally come to rest.

See the full interview below.