After stringing together 19-consecutive wins without a loss, junior welterweight contender Chris Algieri is looking to take a step up in competition and contend for a title.
After beating the best opponent put in front of him to date in January in Emmanuel Taylor which was featured on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, Algieri (19-0, 8 KOs) feels he did good, but still has room to improve.
“I give myself an 8. I feel I am progressing and getting better each fight/training camp but haven’t hit my potential in the ring yet,” Algieri said. “I have been learning on the job since my pro debut and my style is coming together. I feel my boxing IQ is growing and the sky is the limit.”
With Algieri beating his opponent each time hs steps up in competition, his name is now being brought up for fights with big name opponents. Algieri has been mentioned as a possible foe for the hard-hitting Ruslan Provodnikov, a fight that Algieri says he wants.
“It’s a great opportunity; myself and my team feel we are ready. Provodnikov is an excellent fighter and a tough guy but a few years ago he was in the same place I’m in now,” Algieiri explained. “It makes me even hungrier to see a guy like that get to where he is at and to be in running to get that fight.”
If Algieri doesn’t get his shot at Provodnikov just yet he knows he can’t choose just anyone for his next bout. Setting up a bout with another known junior welterweight is the way to go for Algieri, as he must prove he belongs among the best in the stacked division.
“At this point, there is no cherry-picking. The next moves are very important but we need to be ready for everyone.”
With Algieiri consistently fighting better boxers he had the chance to fight on national TV, with his Friday Night Fights experience his last time out and NBC Sports Network before that. The added pressure the extra media attention brings is something that Algieri embraces and says it’s part of the sport on the bigger stage.
“It’s an extra factor to deal with for sure, but nothing I haven’t been able to handle. In fact I relish in the attention, Algieri said of the increased media attention. “This is boxing- the best sport in the world on the grandest stage; if you can’t handle the attention, you need to find a new job.
With Algieri’s last eight fights taking place in his hometown of Huntington, N.Y. at the Paramount Theatre, Algieri has fought in front of packed audiences made up of mostly his fans. Having such a huge local backing is something Algieri enjoys despite there being added pressure to impress his faithful in attendance.
“It’s a great feeling. It’s been a real organic, grassroots rise to where we are right now. The fans are real. They are tangible,” Algieri said of his local support. “I can look out of the ring and see people I know at every corner. It definitely raises the stakes but I think that will help me rise for the big shows.”
With those eight consecutive bouts taking place with pro-Algieri crowds, the 30-year-old Algieri could have a rude awakening when he fights outside of New York. Despite what has become a tradition over the past two-and-a-half years, Algieri said he doesn’t get too involved with the hometown support.
“I try not to get too caught up in the fanfare, especially on fight night. I have a singular focus in the ring: win,” he said. “Whether the crowd is behind me or not, I have to fight that man in front of me. I have quite a bit of experience traveling for fights from my kickboxing career as well as for multiple cross-country training camps.”
When Algieri’s career in the ring comes to a close he already has a backup plan in place after he hangs up his gloves. Algieri has a master’s degree in clinical science but says he does not know exactly when he will call it a career, but the goal is to nab a major title.
“I am a very goal-orientated person. I have goals of being world champion and I believe we are very close to achieving that,” Algieri said of his future in the sport. “I will take each fight as they come and rationally assess how far we can go and decide from there. “
