Algieri: Good Jab and Movement Give Provodnikov Issues

By Mike Coppinger

Chris Algieri (19-0, 9 KOs) is a sizable underdog heading into his June 14 HBO fight with Ruslan Provodnikov (23-0, 16 KOs) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, but he's not worried.

That's because Algieri has identified some weaknesses in the Siberian Rocky's game from watching tape, and he plans to capitalize on them to take home the WBO 140-pound title.

"Just based on past fights, there is a weakness with dealing with a jab and a boxer and movement, but really those are the things that we've been trying to work most on," Algieri said on a recent conference call. "But, at the end of the day it's a fight. Ruslan is going to press the action. I'm going to have to stand and fight at times. So, we'll be ready for that as well."

The fight was originally set to take place at the Nassau Coliseum in Algieri's hometown of Long Island, but Algieri won't have to travel too far even with the new location.

The former kickboxer has been training in Las Vegas in preparation for his HBO debut in order to get top sparring.

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