Teak-tough slugger Ruslan Provodnikov regularly thrilled boxing fans with his fan-friendly all-action style. He claimed a world title at the second time of asking, briefly holding the WBO junior welterweight title in the mid-2010s.

Provodnikov, who was the middle child of three, was born in Beryozovo, Russia on January 20, 1984.

"Beryozovo which is a half-Island in Russia, in Siberia," Provodnikov told The Ring through former manager Vadim Kornilov. "I grew up very poor, it was a very difficult time. Sometimes I had to eat and find food off the street to stay fed. The neighborhood was poor, and my family was poor, I had to survive however I could."

Without proper due care and attention from his family, Provodnikov fell into trouble on the streets before things took a turn for the better when he was 10-years-old.

"They were there but not taking care of me as much other parents," he said. "I found a boxing trainer and that's when my life started to change, he was like a second father, his name was Evgeniy Alexeevich Vokuev. He started taking care of me and this was how I stayed off the streets, stopped fighting on the streets and got me out of being a street kid and got me into doing something and being a professional athlete."

Provodnikov went on to have in the region of 200 amateur fights before turning professional in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in December 2006. He won a second fight and caught the attention of an American promoter.

"My first fight in America was when my Russian promoter, German Titov, connected with Art Pelullo of Banner Promotions and they made an agreement to co-promote," he said. "Artie put me on a lot of their shows, I looked good, and they really liked me. They saw a lot of power, excitement and heart and wanted to sign me and bring me back."

He appeared several times on ESPN Friday Night Fights engaging in exciting fights with the likes of former lightweight titlist Javier Jauregui (TKO 8), long-time contender Emanuel Augustus (TKO 9) and future junior welterweight title challenger Mauricio Herrera (L UD 12).

"They were back and forth, the Herrera fight was close decision, I could have got the decision, but everyone loved the fight," he said.

"I kept coming back on that show, they began to recognize me, and at some point, I was offered that fight with [WBO welterweight titlist] Tim Bradley on HBO."

Provodnikov, who was a sizable 5.5-to-1 betting underdog, had to jump up in weight for that opportunity.

"I was offered the fight about six or seven weeks before the fight, I was still in Russia. I think Bradley had another opponent or someone pull out, so they offered it to us," he recalled. "I took the fight without asking how much I was getting paid. I said, 'Let's do it.' Opportunities don't come too often. We flew in from Russia, came into camp with Freddie Roach and strength and conditioning coach Gavin MacMillan and Marvin Somodio. We had the best camp we could have between Las Vegas and Los Angeles at the Wild Card."

The two met on a memorable night at Home Depot Center, Carson, California, in March 2013.

"I got him in the first [round] but Pat Russell was the referee, who later said he didn't see the knockdown, he counted it as a slip when I hit him with the straight right hand and Bradley feel got up and couldn't stand on his feet and feel down again. Mr. Pat Russell thought that was a slip? Later he was asked by someone what that was about and he said he didn't see the punch," said Provodnikov, who hurt the defending champion several times during an epic encounter. "He's now either retired or suspended from referring but he's still judging. It leaves a lot of questions. In sports it should be even more equal than it is in life because athletes dedicate their whole life to this. That fight was a knockout in the first round, but the referee said it was a slip.

"Freddie gave me a lot of stuff that worked in the fight. The most emotional fight of my career. I gave it my all, I was crying at the end because I thought my career was over because of the decision and the fact I lost. At the end of the day, the fans saw what happened and they knew mistakes were made by the officials and they knew I gave it my all. Nobody expected this, but I did, what you saw, and it was one of the most exciting fights of the century.

"After that I got a lot of credit, it didn't matter who won and who lost. HBO knew I was a star."

The Russian pressure fighter was in business and parlayed the close loss to Bradley into a shot at his natural 140-pounds against WBO ruler Mike Alvarado. Provodnikov had to go into the lion's den and face Alvarado in Denver, Colorado in October 2013.

"This fight proved and changed a lot in my life because I realized that you can be whoever you want to me no matter where who you are and where you're from, you just have to stick to your goal. I proved to myself anything is possible," said Provodnikov, who stopped Alvarado in Round 10. "You can keep on going and reach your destiny and get to your goal.

"We were all very happy. I had dinner with the team but wanted to go home and spend time with my family. That was the most important thing."

However, his championship reign didn't last long, and he lost in controversial fashion to Chris Algieri in June 2014.

"I thought I did everything I could to win but a lot of boxing politics came in," said Provodnikov, who dropped Algieri twice in the opening round. "I knew it was a close fight, I was taking the fight to him the whole 12-rounds and doing everything I could. It seemed like he was avoiding [me.] I believe I could have got the decision. Algieri was the local fighter, and he had the local officials on his side."

"The Siberian Rocky" returned home with a win over faded former lightweight titlist Jose Luis Castillo (TKO 5) and was then took on fellow power-puncher Lucas Matthysse in a mouth-water fight.

"A very emotional and tough fight," he explained. "I was getting to the point where I felt my career was coming to an end. I always wanted the Matthysse fight because it was a real challenge. He was very strong, and it was interesting to me.

"He did well, his team did well and were able to do a lot to neutralize my plan and what I do well. He was trying to box and move around."

Ultimately the cerebral approach from the Argentine fighter gave him the edge via 12-round majority decision.

Provodnikov wasn't quite done and hammered out a fourth-round stoppage over previously unbeaten Jesus Rodriguez (TKO 4) in Monte Carlo before losing what would be his final to John Molina Jr. (UD 12) in June 2016.

"Fight week, I felt I should get out of the sport," he admitted. "I felt not as motivated. I didn't feel much of a challenge. I had a tough camp; I was coming to the end mentally."

Since retiring, he has become a congressman in his hometown of Beryozovo, where he still lives.

"Trying to help my people, building gyms in my home region for boxing where kids get to train for free. Help build a school and some hospitals. Doing a lot of things for my people and giving back, that's what it's all about for me right now."

Provodnikov, now 40, is married and has two sons; the eldest is a rising boxer.

"I'm always willing to talk to everybody," he said. "I always appreciate the fans all over the world who supported me, it's really important and a big part of my career and motivation."

He graciously took time to speak to The Ring about the best he fought in 10 key categories.

Tim Bradley: "He had a very good technical jab."

Lucas Matthysse: "I couldn't land a clean punch on him. Matthysse's team set up a good game plan to neutralize my strong suits."

Bradley: "Quick punches and the quality of the punches; he threw on average 100-punches a round."

Bradley: "Tim Bradley and [Chris] Algieri. They both had really good footwork. I would pick Tim Bradley."

Bradley: "There's two types of boxer, one boxes with their heart and the other their mind and Tim Bradley uses a lot of his mind. In my fight specifically, he also was able to use his heart because at some point he had to survive. In those parts of my fight with him he had to use his heart because his mind was off."

Matthysse: "Matthysse was physically strong, Bradley was also physically strong, but I would say Matthysse."

Mike Alvarado: "He was taking clean punches from me at the beginning of the fight, but he was able to persevere and hold on."

Matthysse: "He seemed to have natural power, his punches were strong, something he was born with."

Bradley: "He had the highest skills."

Bradley: "He was more of a complete package."

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him on X @AnsonWainwr1ght.