20-0 Chris Algieri Comes Off Deck Twice in First To Win WBO, Third World Title
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Brooklyn, NY (June 15th, 2014)– Boxing experts who had stars in their eyes for Ruslan Provodnikov watched their overhyped power hitter’s career as a world junior welterweight champion go up in smoke in the main event of a six bout card at Barclays Center on Saturday evening, June 14, 2014.
Chris Algieri, a 20-0 professional kick boxing world champion at 140 and 147 pounds, saw his professional boxing record go to 20-0, 40-0 overall combined with his kickboxing record, with a 12 round split decision victory over Ruslan Provodnikov to win the World Boxing Organization World Light Welterweight title.
Provodnikov, dubbed ‘The Russian Rocky’, knocked down Algieri twice in the first round. However, Algieri got up immediately from the flash knockdowns, even when it appeared Provodnikov hit Algieri while he was on the floor after the second knockdown. Algieri apparently was blinking with a swollen right eye.
Algieri appeared to win every round from round two through round eleven, at least ten consecutive rounds, as the busier fighter moving left and right all night, as Provodnikov came forward with pressure and tried unsuccessfully to cut off the ring. Provodnikov’s trainer, Freddie Roach, called for bodywork and uppercuts which rarely materialized. Algieri, with height and reach advantage, played the part of roadrunner, jabbing out of range.
Provodnikov’s brutal power hitting style appeared frustrated all night. Provodnikov just did not want to spend the night chasing the roadrunner. Ringside commentary by noted judge Steve Weisfeld pointed out the scoring discrepancy between punches landed versus the more effective power shots landed. Weisfeld seemed to think Provodnikov won the fight on the cards easily. Provodnikov did not appear to land any great number of power shots nor anything which rattled Algieri’s cage after the first round. One judge, Max DeLuca of California, actually saw it as Weisfeld did. New York Judge Tom Schreck had it 114-112 for Algieri, and Connecticut judge Don Trella had it 114-112 Algieri.
Algieri fought the twelfth round blind in the right eye, which was swollen shut. Anticipating punches, Algieri kept moving and avoided most of them, though he clearly lost the final round. Provodnikov noted after the bout his style just wasn’t meant to chase the runner, and he was getting hit with numerous tap punches which could not hurt him, but which he could not avoid. Much was the same situation when Provodnikov lost earlier in his career to Mauricio Herrera. The road map to beating Provodnikov was already there, and Algieri did his homework.
Result: Chris Algieri Win Split Decision 12 Ruslan Provodnikov, Light Welterweights
Algieri wins the World Boxing Organization World Light Welterweight title
Scoring: 114-112, 114-112 Algieri. 107-109 for Provodnikov.
Referee: Harvey Dock. WBO Supervisor: Jose Izquierdo II
Barclays Center Undercard
Demetrius Andrade TKO 7 Brian Rose, Light Middleweights (1:19)
Rose retains the WBO World Light Middleweight title (prelim bout to main event)
Sean Monaghan Win 10 Elvir Muriqi, Light Heavyweights
Monaghan retains WBC Continental Americas Light Heavyweight title
Heather Hardy Win Technical Decision 7 Jackie Trivilino, Female Super Bantamweights
Fedor Papazov KO 3 Miguel Angel Mendoza, Lightweights
Simeon Hardy TKO 2 Malcom Terry, Middleweights (1:02)
Hris Galeano Win Unanimous Decision 4 Malik Jackson, Middleweights
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