Algieri pulls off massive upset over hard-hitting Provodnikov

Courtesy: Chris Algieri's Twitter
Courtesy: Chris Algieri’s Twitter

After a first round that looked like it would be the last, junior welterweight Chris Algieri showed a tremendous amount of heart and weathered the earlier storm from Ruslan Provodnikov and pulled off the shocking upset win Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Less than a minute into the fight Provodnikov landed a powerful left hook sending Algieri to the canvas, instantly swelling up his right eye. A few moments later another shot was landed on Algieri’s eye causing him to take a knee.

Despite the rocky start, Algieri pulled himself together, got his head right and put together an impressive display of pure boxing. Adjusting each round to whatever Provodnikov threw at him, Algieri showed the heart of a champion to fight the majority of the bout with essentially one good eye, in a performance that would of garnered him positive reaction even if he had loss the bout.

A few times here and there Provodnikov landed a power shot that affected Algieri somewhat, but nowhere near the impact the one in the first round did. With Algieri’s ability to move around the ring and not let Provodnikov cut off the ring, the power-punching Russian could not set his feet to land a knockout blow, which he appeared to be hunting for in much of the bout.

Algieri stuck to his game through all 12 rounds and impressed two of the three judges enough to warrant a split decision victory with scores of 117-109, 114-112 and 114-112, netting him the WBO junior welterweight strap.

With most not knowing much about Algieri coming into the Provodnikov showdown, he showed the world he belongs in the mix with the best in the 140-pound division and appears to behave a bright future in the sport he took up at the age of 23. Now 30, Algieri has amassed a pro record of 20-0 and and a world title around his waist.

Algieri is a former world champion kickboxer and had no amateur boxing training prior to his professional career, making this feat all the more impressive.

Provodnikov admitted after the bout that he prefers not to fight boxers like Algieri who move around the ring and stick-and-move. He rather face a fighter who will stand in there and go toe-to-toe with him.

It will be interesting to see what happens to Provodnikov going forward, as everyone knows he is not the fighter he is against an agile opponent and he can’t refuse to fight everyone that isn’t willing to stand and trade with him or he might run out of quality opponents.