By Allan Fox: #13 WBO Chris Algieri (19-0, 8 KO’s) recognizes that he’s going to need to slug with WBO light welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KO’s) at times in their June 14th fight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Algieri, 30, knows full well that Provodnikov will be cutting off the ring all night long looking to KO him, but he’s going to make sure that it doesn’t happen too much.
Provodnikov is the type of fighter who struggles if he’s unable to slug with his opponents. He’s really short at 5’6”, and he doesn’t have the reach to be able to handle the taller fighters like the 5’10” Algieri unless he stands in front of him.
“All my career I’ve had to fight guys that were taller than me and had longer arms,” Provodnikov said. “And all I’ve had to do is try to get to them and try to pressure them. It’s no secret what my plan is. Of course I’m going to pressure. We know what he’s going to do. I mean they all try to box me and they all try to move and jab. But, I’m going to follow my plan and always do is that break the first one down outside. I can break him down from the distance from up close and from anywhere. And but the question is always how much can–how long can he jab?”
Algieri has a great jab and he moves really well. He’s capable of staying on the move for 12 rounds if need be. If Algieri fights smart for the entire fight, it’s possible he could out-box Provodnikov the same way that Mauricio Herrera did with his 12 round decision win over Provodnikov in 2011.
“Yeah, I mean absolutely. There’s no shot that that I’m not going to have to fight,” Algieri said. “This is a boxing match. Ruslan’s going to put the pressure and he’s going be in front of me. But, at the same time even though I’m deemed the boxer and he the puncher, once we’re inside, I can still punch.”
In the co-feature about, unbeaten WBO light middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade (20-0m 13 KO’s) will be making his first defense of his title against #1 WBO Brian Rose (25-1-1, 7 KO’s).
Saturday’s card will be televised on HBO.
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