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Where Does Ruslan Provodnikov Go After Loss To Chris Algieri?

After drilling Chris Algieri with a left hook in the first round, it appeared that there wouldn’t even be a second round. But instead of wilting, Algieri and his disgustingly hideous eye battled back.

Ruslan-Algieri - Ed Mulholland3 Photo By Ed Mulholland

It looked like easy work for the “Siberian Rocky.” After drilling Chris Algieri with a left hook in the first round, it appeared that there wouldn’t even be a second round. But instead of wilting, Algieri and his disgustingly hideous eye battled back.

Not only did it go the full 12 rounds, but Ruslan Provodnikov found himself on the wrong end of a split decision.

While most of us figured on an easy night for Provo, there were signs before the fight that he was not exactly super excited to be matched up against the lanky Algieri. And while one can certainly argue that Provodnikov should have gotten the nod from the judges, no one can deny that Algieri was probably the worst possible matchup for the plodding beast.

Provodnikov isn’t exactly a mystery wrapped in a riddle. He makes it very clear that his game plan is to tear your face off or rip out your insides, or perhaps both at the same time. He is as defensively concerned as a tweeker on bath salts, and he’s going for the knockout.

One would assume that his team would match him with the most ideal opponent–one who is also a come-forward, win-or-die-trying brawler.

The idea would be to make it a battle of wills. If the outcome is to be decided by who breaks the other one down first, Provodnikov might be the pound-for-pound king. By matching him with a defensive minded boxer, you’re doing the man no favors.

So where does he turn now?

There are issues when lining up fights for him. First, there’s the current cold war between Top Rank and Golden Boy. Though there are signs that things may finally be thawing, several opponents get crossed off right away until things are actually fixed between the two companies.

The other problem is that there really weren’t a whole lot of fighters chomping at the bit to get into the ring with the seemingly homicidal Provodnikov before the loss. Not much will change after.

Take a look at his three losses: he nearly tore off Algieri’s eye, he knocked Bradley delirious and was probably 30 seconds away from knocking him stiff, and he made underrated Mauricio Herrera look like he’d been attacked by bat-wielding monsters.

Who wants to deal with that kind of fight, even if he is beatable?

There are a couple of choices that jump out. First, he could secure a rematch with Algieri. Though Algieri showed a ton of heart and skill, there is unfinished business there. The fight was very difficult to score and frankly could have gone either way.

The other option is going after Tim Bradley. We can agree that there is MAJOR unfinished business there as well. They’re both coming off losses, so this seems like a solid crossroads fight for both guys.

However, Algieri wasn’t an easy out the first time, and he only got better as the fight wore on. Would the second time be any different? And more than that, does Provodnikov even want the rematch? He seemed disgusted with having to chase Algieri down, and he’d certainly have to do it again.

As for Bradley, one could argue that he fought the absolute dumbest fight possible the first time around, and still squeaked out a victory. If he used his boxing skills, would the fight be close again?

Maybe. Bradley is a terrific fighter, but it’s become apparent that he doesn’t exactly make sound decisions in the ring. There was the Provodnikov fight, where he brawled the brawler, and then the second Pacquiao fight, where he once again tried to brawl with a man who hits much harder.

So maybe Provo wouldn’t have to chase Bradley around at all.

He most certainly wouldn’t have to look very hard to find Brandon Rios. The thought of those two trading bombs would have every boxing fan drooling. First, Rios has to get past Diego Chaves in August, which will not be easy. But a Rios vs. Provodnikov fight is an absolute war from start to finish.

If the boxing gods smiled on the sport, and the promotional companies stopped warring, and the networks backed off, we could entertain thoughts of Provodnikov taking on Maidana, or Molina, or fellow monster Lucas Matthysse.

But for now, those are to remain the dreams of the hardcore fan.

For now, despite the loss, Provodnikov remains a must-see fighter. Chris Algieri seems intent on going after a fight with Pacquiao, but if that doesn’t pan out, a rematch with Provodnikov seems like the most logical choice. For sheer entertainment purposes, I’d hold out hope for a Rios vs. Provodnikov matchup early next year.

If the next opponent for Provodnikov is hazy at the moment, what’s perfectly clear is the method of attack. Sheer, brutal force.

He is boxing at its most savage, and right or wrong, at its most entertaining.

 

Header photo by Brendan Montenegro/Round By Round Boxing

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