Fighting most of the fight with a closed right eye, undefeated Chris Algieri pulled off the upset win on the cards of two judges by being the busier (83 punches thrown per round) and more accurate fighter. Ruslan Provodnikov clearly landed the harder punches all fight.
By Jake Donovan - Ruslan Provodnikov is referred to as 'The Siberian Rocky,' but it was Chris Algieri who lived the dream of the ultimate underdog story. The unbeaten contender survived two knockdowns and a grotesquely swollen right eye to score an upset split decision win Saturday evening at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. There was debate heading into the evening over whom would truly serve as the crowd favorite in the HBO-televised headliner. Algieri, a huge draw in his hometown of Huntington (Long Island), New York reportedly sold roughly $100,000 worth of tickets, with his family and friends making the hour-long trek from Suffolk County for his first major title shot. Meanwhile, Provodnikov is being groomed as a future star in the Brooklyn area. The fight took place 30 minutes from the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, heavily populated with Russian immigrants and Russian-Americans. As the fight progressed, it was clear who became the sentimental favorite. Algieri was in trouble from the opening bell, but managed to survive a pair of opening round knockdowns and a rapidly swelling right eye to make a fight of it to the pleasant surprise of the crowd on hand and viewers at home. Provodnikov lived up to his reputation as a ruthless stalker, even walking through his opponent's punches to make his point. Both fighters scored with left hooks, in fact Algieri landing first. Provodnikov shrugged off the shot and slammed home a left hook of his own, landing flush on Algieri's right eye. The punch was good for the bout's first official knockdown, and also caused instantaneous swelling that would become a factor over the course of the bout.
Bill "Two Scoops" Emes catches up with Ruslan "Siberian Rocky" Provodnikov to discuss the upset split decision loss to Chris Algieri, who captured the WBO junior welterweight championship in an HBO televised main event from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Provodnikov talks about the scoring of the two judges who gave the fight to Algieri, what gave him trouble in the contest, what's next and more.
Bill "Two Scoops" Emes catches up with undefeated Chris Algieri (20-0, 8KOs), in the locker room, to discuss the biggest win of his career. Algieri breaks down how he got up from two knockdowns in the first round, and overcame a closed right eye, to win a twelve round split decision over heavily favored Ruslan "Siberian Rocky" Provodnikov to capture the WBO junior welterweight championship in an HBO televised main event from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Freddie Roach, trainer for Ruslan Provodnikov (23-3, 16KOs), felt there was hometown cooking from the two judges who scored the fight, 114-112, for Chris Algieri (20-0, 8KOs) on Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The third judge had it 117-109. Algieri was down twice in the first round and his right eye was swollen shut by the eight round of the contest.
Ruslan "Siberian Rocky" Provodnikov (23-3, 16KOs) is stunned that undefeated Chris Algieri (20-0, 8KOs) pulled off the biggest win of his career on Saturday night, when he got up from two knockdowns in the first round and won a twelve round split decision to capture the WBO junior welterweight championship at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Despite the disastrous start, two judges saw Algieri as the winner with identical scores of 114-112.
Bill "Two Scoops" Emes catches the post-fight press conference to HBO's televised doubleheader, which featured Ruslan Provodnikov vs. Chris Algieri, who got up from two knockdowns in the first round, and overcame a closed right eye, to win a twelve round split decision over the heavily favored Provodnikov to capture the WBO junior welterweight championship at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Hear from Algieri, Provodnikov, Freddie Roach and more.
Bill "Two Scoops" Emes catches up with Freddie Roach, trainer of Ruslan "Siberian Rocky" Provodnikov to discuss the upset split decision loss to Chris Algieri, who captured the WBO junior welterweight championship in an HBO televised main event from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Roach talks about the scoring of the two judges who gave the fight to Algieri, what gave Ruslan trouble in the contest, what's next and more.
On Saturday night, undefeated Chris Algieri (20-0, 8KOs) secured the biggest win of his career. Algieri got up from two knockdowns in the first round, and overcame a closed right eye, to win a twelve round split decision over heavily favored Ruslan "Siberian Rocky" Provodnikov to capture the WBO junior welterweight championship in an HBO televised main event from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Two judges scored 114-112 for Algieri and the third had it 117-109 for Provodnikov.
Ruslan Provodnikov lost his WBO junior welterweight title to Chris Algieri in Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday night on a split decision. Two judges scored the bout 114-112 for Algieri and the third had it 117-109 for Provodnikov. Algieri was knocked down twice in the opening round and finished the bout with a badly swollen right eye, but scored well all along. For one judge to make Provodnikov an eight-point winner and the other two giving it by two points to the challenger should be a matter of discussion in the aftermath to the fight. Provodnikov, trained by the highly regarded Freddie Roach, landed the harder punches but probably not enough of them to remove all doubt. The Russian’s professional record fell to 23-3, including 16 wins inside the distance. Algieri remained undefeated after 20 bouts, with 8 knockout victories.