By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Manny Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz has corrected an earlier report that MP Promotions had signed up rugged Russian sparring partner Ruslan Provodnikov, who faces undefeated WBO welterweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley at the Home Depot Center in Carson City, California on March 16.

Koncz, in a text message to this reporter clarified that the fighter they signed up was also a Russian and had sparred with Pacquiao prior to his last fight against Juan Manuel Marquez last December 8.

Provodnikov and his trainer had earlier said Koncz may have made a mistake although while Koncz spoke about signing a rugged Russian sparring partner of Pacquiao in a lengthy TV interview with us, he didn’t actually mention a name.

He identified the fighter as 26 year old Sukhrab Shidaev who has a record of 2-0 with both wins coming by way of technical knockouts.

In his debut Shidaev, a welterweight, scored a 3rd round TKO over Jose Trevino in a four round bout on December 15, 2012 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

In his second bout which was held in Russia, Shidaev also won by a 3rd round TKO in a scheduled four rounder over Dimitry Lavrinenko on January 24, 2013.