Longtime sparring partners Manny Pacquiao and Ruslan Provodnikov are setting aside their deep friendship when they face each other on 18 April at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
The fight — an exhibition — is set for 10 rounds.
Nicknamed the “Siberian Rocky,” Provodnikov served as Pacquiao’s sparmate during training camps for Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Art Pelullo, who heads Banner Promotions, is staging the event in coordination with Indistry Media.
Having last fought in July at the MGM Grand, Pacquiao, 47, brings to the ring a 62-8-3 win-loss-draw record with 39 knockouts.
The rugged and solidly-built Provodnikov, 42, packs a 25-5-0 mark with 18 knockouts. All his five losses were on points, proof that he is ultra-tough.
Pacquiao almost became a world champion last year but his bout with Mario Barrios was ruled a draw, preventing him from capturing the World Boxing Council (WBC)welterweight jewels.
Unlike Pacquiao, Provodnikov is retired, having called it quits in 2016 after dropping four of his last seven fights.
Three of his defeats were dealt by former Pacquiao victims Bradley, Lucas Matthysse and Chris Algieri.
Still, Pelullo swears the upcoming match will be explosive.
“Manny and Ruslan should have faced each other earlier in their careers, and it’s a shame it didn’t happen sooner, but at least we are getting it now,” Pelullo said in a statement.
“Both Manny and Ruslan are among the most exciting, fan-friendly and TV-friendly fighters of their generation. Manny and Ruslan never back down and never give an inch. Manny showed in his last fight with Barrios that, despite his age, he is still a world-class fighter.”
“Personally, I thought he won the fight and should be the WBC welterweight champion. As far as Ruslan is concerned, Ruslan has always wanted to get either Pacquiao or Mayweather in the ring, and now the opportunity is here. I am confident that Ruslan will steal the show and rise to the occasion,” he added.