Algieri: Provodnikov Would've Been Easy Without Round 1

By Ryan Burton

When Chris Algieri defeated Ruslan Provodnikov on June 14th, he not only won the fight but he also secured his financial future by netting a career high payday against Manny Pacquiao.  The fight takes place in Macau, China on the 22nd of November and will be distributed by HBO pay-per-view.

Algieri was knocked down twice in the first round of his fight against Provodnikov and suffered a grotesque eye injury which resulted in his eye swelling shut.  Algieri was able to survive the round and then made the necessary adjustments to win a split decision.  The 30-year-old said that he learned that he cannot make mistakes in big fights.  He went as far as to say that once he got out of the first round against Provodnikov, the fight was actually easy.

"I learned to not make mistakes.  That fight wouldn't have been close if not for the first round.  It would have been an easy fight. That first round skewed the scoring so much.  I just had to follow the game plan," said Algieri.

The New York native will have a considerable height and reach advantage when he steps in the ring opposite Pacquiao.  While he knows he has some physical advantages, Algieri insists that what he has on the inside is what will lead him to victory against the Filipino congressman.

"I am young and I am hungry and I have those physical advantages but what is going to win this fight is my heart and determination," Algieri told BoxingScene.com.

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