ALGIERI IS ALWAYS THE UNDERDOG IN HIS THREE MAJOR FIGHTS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 19 Aug 2014
Chris Algieri always wore the underdog tag in his three major fights this year including his coming fight with Manny Pacquiao on November 23 in Macau.
"I was an underdog against Emmanuel Taylor. I was an underdog against Ruslan Provodnikov," Algieri was quoted by Boxing News 24. "Everyone was saying I didn't belong in there. Obviously I proved I belonged to be there. People are saying I don't belong to be in with Manny."
Algieri scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Taylor, the IBF number 6 junior welterweight contender at the Paramount Theater in Huntington, New York last February 14, 2014.
He scored a unanimous decision, 98-92, 97-93 and 97-93 displaying superb athleticism coupled with a strong left hand in a unique fighting stance.
Algieri's undefeated record of 19-0 with 8 KOs enabled him to stage a title showdown against WBO lightwelterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov (23-2, 16KOs). The Russian with a Rocky Balboa-style was the huge crowd favorite. He and Tim Bradley brawled in what was declared as the Fight of the Year 2013. The "Siberian Rocky" earned his crown by stopping Mike Alvarado in nine rounds last October.
Algieri is always known as a fighter without so much power and is a tremendous darkhorse. His confidence remained as strong as ever though.
?We?ve got to go out there and be a master boxer,? Algieri was quoted by Bad Left Hook. ?This is a boxing match. It?s not a barroom brawl. So, I?ve got to go out there and use my skills.?
The fight with Algieri was a very important assignment for Provodnikov and a win in his first title defense would mean a great opportunity to face Manny Pacquiao.
Algieri went down the canvas twice in round one, his right eye was swollen that it had a difficulty seeing in the later rounds, and yet he defeated Provodnikov and unbelievably wresting the WBO junior welterweight title at Barclays Center in Brooklyn via split decision on June 14, 2014.
Algieri shocked the world with a split-decision victory over Provodnikov. Don Trella and Tom Schreck scored it 114-112 for Algieri while Max DeLuca saw it 117-109 for Provodnikov.
After the first round, where Provodnikov floored Algieri twice, Trella favored Algieri in seven-straight rounds. Schreck gave Algieri four of the last six rounds.
Algieri was a + 450 prefight underdog, but he connected more blows with 288 of 993 (29%) total punches, and 177 of 427 (41%) power shots. Provodnikov landed 205 of 776 (26%) punches, and 164 of 434 (38%) power shots.
The Huntington, New York native had not dreamed of a big-money bout against Pacquiao, considered as one of the best boxers of all time. But after winning against Provodnikov, the unexpected chance was realized. He is fully aware that boxing fans doubted his winning capability but assured that the best is yet to come.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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