By Thomas Gerbasi

If the last year of Chris Algieri’s career has been a prime case of too much too soon, the New Yorker isn’t toning things down or taking that idea to heart as he approaches his third consecutive big-time main event against Amir Khan tonight.

Suffering eight knockdowns in his last two fights hasn’t deterred the 31-year-old from the path he believes he’s destined for, even with the distinct possibility of more against a fast and dangerous foe who has been at the top of the game for a lot longer than he has.

Khan, three years younger yet light years older when it comes to experience in the spotlight, was groomed for world championships and main events, and even leading up to this fight, he is queried more about Floyd Mayweather than Chris Algieri.  Algieri is a college kid turned kickboxer turned boxer who went from local ticket seller to world champion and the B-side in a Manny Pacquiao fight.

Whirlwind wouldn’t begin to describe the last 12 months of his life, but the ride truly began last June when he rose from the canvas twice to win a split decision over Ruslan Provodnikov and take the WBO junior welterweight title. It was the feel good story of the summer in New York, where Algieri became the toast of the town, the little engine that could, the Long Island Rocky, and any other phrase that describes an underdog making good.

The Pacquiao fight followed in rapid-fire fashion five months later, and it’s a testament to the skill of the Top Rank’s promotional machine that a fighter virtually unknown outside of the east coast boxing scene was introduced to the world and presented as a threat to the Filipino icon.

Few would pick Algieri to upset Pacquiao, and if they did, they kept it to themselves. Simply put, Algieri wasn’t ready to jump from 0 to 60 as fast as he did, not in 21 pro fights, and it showed, as he was dropped six times en route to a near shutout decision loss.

It was nothing for him to hang his head about, just one of those nights that happen when the brightest spotlight ever converges with a lack of world-class experience. And that didn’t just go for Algieri, but for his corner as well, and that was the first thing he supplemented after the Pacquiao fight, bringing in John David Jackson as head trainer to get ready for Khan.

"I know that it gets said all the time, but this was truly the best and most intense training camp of my life,” Algieri said. “Working with John David Jackson has truly been a blessing. He has brought out the best Chris Algieri there is. You are going to see a whole new fighter come Friday night.”

A whole new fighter may not be necessary, but one with some tweaks will certainly improve his chances against Khan, someone who can be truly devastating in the ring if he fights someone who he suspects can’t hurt him, and with only eight knockouts in 20 wins, Algieri falls into this category.

Algieri can box though, and the lanky welterweight can be unorthodox enough to give anyone problems. Is Khan that someone though? Is Chris Algieri a world-class welterweight ready to return to the championship circle or was he a one hit wonder who captured the imagination of the boxing world for a brief moment, only to be exposed a single fight later?

“The only thing that matters is proving something to myself, and I do feel like I have to prove something,” he said. “I wasn't happy with my last performance at all. I know I belong here at the elite level and it's time for me to prove it.”

It’s what you expect to hear from a prizefighter, but also what you want to hear. In his heart, Algieri is a fighter and will always be. You get dropped eight times by Ruslan Provodnikov and Manny Pacquiao and still get up every time? That’s enough proof.

But does he belong in fights like this?

Friday will tell the tale. It may be another case of too much too soon, but at this point Algieri can’t turn back. He has dared to be great, and while he’s fallen short, just taking that shot is admirable. And once you’ve established yourself as someone who won’t back down from a challenge, it’s a blessing and a curse. The blessing is felt in your wallet and in those areas that really don’t matter should you be successful. The curse is that nothing gets easier from here on out. Either the fights get bigger and harder, or you’re forced to take a step down far from the heights you’ve once experienced.

This is what Algieri signed up for, and it’s obvious that there’s a lot more involved than just a 12-round fight. Some people like that though, and some people are also superstitious. So fighting in Barclays Center in Brooklyn nearly a year after he won a world title there?

Wouldn’t be a bad way to start the Algieri whirlwind all over again.