On Tuesday, Ruslan Provodnikov, John Molina Jr. and undefeated WBC No. 1-ranked lightweight contender Dejan Zlatacanin participated in a Media Workout Day at Fortune's Gym in Los Angeles.
Below is what Provodnikov said Tuesday:
RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV
(On the importance of this fight)
"Every fight is important. I come out for every fight to give everything I have. For me, every fight is like the last fight. So this is a very important fight, just like any other.
"I don't like to make predictions too much; boxing is an unpredictable sport and it's hard to say what will happen. Anything can happen on June 11. We've got a little bit to wait and we'll see what happens.
"I don't know if it will go to the scorecards. Anything can happen. He is also a great fighter, so maybe it will go to the scorecards."
(On what he expects from John Molina Jr.)
"I'm expecting him to come to fight. No doubt he's a fighter, he's a warrior. For somebody to defeat me is a big motivation and I know he'll be coming to win.
"No matter what, he's going to do anything possible to win this fight. That's what I expect from people that take a fight with me - that they'll die in the ring to defeat me because it would be a great accomplishment. So I'm expecting a real war, a real fight."
(On the style of fighting and the matchup)
"I think this is the type of fight that will be exciting and all-action. I think it's a great matchup and it will be exciting for the fans."
(On who he's looking to fight next)
"I'm not thinking about that too much right now. Luckily my weight classes, both 140 and 147, there's no problem with the opposition. There (are) a lot of guys, a lot of stars. After this fight on June 11 we'll be able to start thinking about what's next.
"I've always said that I'm willing to fight anyone at 140 and 147, just let me know when and I'll be there. I'm ready to fight any of the top guys."
(On if he would rather fight a boxer or a come-forward fighter like Molina)
"I definitely like the guys that come to fight. For me that is a better, more enjoyable fight. I like to fight a guy that wants to brawl.
(On if he's ready to box if Molina choses to box instead of brawl)
"On June 11, I'll be ready for anything that can happen in the ring. I've been watching previous fights and correcting my mistakes and I'll be ready for anything he decides to bring."
(On not fighting for eight months)
"I don't see too much of a negative side to that. I just wanted some time off and now I'm ready to come back. I'm always in shape; I'm always in the gym, always training.
"I'm training all the time and always moving around even when I'm at home. Right now, training camp is going very well. Joel Diaz is very happy with training and he says everything is going a lot better than the last training camp. Everything is 100 percent. I'm not worried at all."
(On his relationship with trainer Joel Diaz)
"Everything is going great. When Joel and I are training together it's always very positive. That's important for me. I'm enjoying the training camp and I'm having a good time, which is the most important thing.
"Boxing-wise I've added a lot of different things. Most importantly, I've increased my defensive skills and that's going to show in this fight very much and I'm positive of that. More than that, my punching combinations have gotten better in the last few camps and that's going to show. Joel and I work well together and that's definitely important."
# # #
Ruslan "The Siberian Rocky" Provodnikov was involved in the Fight of the Year in 2013 with Tim Bradley. John "The Gladiator" Molina Jr. was embroiled in the 2014 Fight of The Year with Lucas Matthysse.
On Saturday, June 11, Provodnikov (25-4, 18 KOs) a former WBO Junior Welterweight World Champion, and former world title challenger Molina (28-6, 23 KOs) will face each other in the 12-round main event of a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader live on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT), from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.
Zlatacanin (17-0, 10 KOs), of the Southeastern European country of Montenegro, will be opposed by fellow unbeaten and WBC No. 2-ranked Emiliano Marsili (32-0-1, 14 KOs), of Italy, for the vacant WBC Lightweight World Championship in the opening match of the SHOWTIME telecast.
In the co-feature, undefeated former 154-pound world champion Demetrius Andrade (22-0, 15 KOs), of Providence, R.I., battles Willie Nelson (25-2-1, 15 KO's), of Cleveland, Ohio, in a 12-round WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator.
Also on June 11, former world title challengers, Willie Monroe Jr. and John Thompson, will meet in a 10-round middleweight bout in the main event on SHOWTIME EXTREME (7 p.m. ET/PT). In the SHO EXTREME opener, heavyweight Andrey Fedosov (28-3, 23 KO's) takes on Mario Heredia (11-1, 9 KOs, 1-2 in WSB) in a 10-round heavyweight bout.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Banner Promotions, Inc., are priced at $85, $60, $45 and $35 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Turning Stone Box Office, by calling 877.833.SHOW, or online at Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).