Provodnikov looking towards fall return

Ruslan Provodnikov is two months removed from his majority decision loss to Lucas Matthysse but is on the hunt for another American TV fight. If all goes according to plan, Ruslan will be back in the ring, and on your TV sets, this October or November.

Ruslan's promoter, Artie Pellulo of Banner Promotions, says that Provodnikov is currently a television free agent but they're trying to work out a deal for an HBO fight.

"We're waiting to see if they have an offer for Ruslan and we're basically figuring out the best course of action," Pelullo said. "There are a lot of great fights out there for him and lots of interest, not only from HBO."

Of course one of those great fights for Ruslan would be a bout with Brandon Rios, a fight that would be a true blood and guts war. According to Bob Arum though, Rios is currently wrapping up negotiations for a Kell Brook fight with an official announcement coming as soon as next week, so that's probably off the table. But I still think Rios-Provodnikov is by far the much better fight to be made.

If Pellulo is unable to work out a deal with an American TV network, he plans on bringing Ruslan back to Russia for a fight. Ruslan recently stopped a very old and faded Jose Luis Castillo in Moscow last November, but hopefully we won't get another one of those farces of a fight.