Photo by Ed Mulholland
After dethroning the WBO Junior Welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov by a close spilt decision, Chris Algieri wants to fry bigger fish.
Against Provodnikov, Algieri survived two knockdowns in the first round, a baseball-size bruise on the right eye and a cut. Algieri definitely won over many fans with his toughness and he has now put himself in the driver’s seat to face the best in the sport of boxing.
Scroll through to read the three best matchups Chris Algieri should consider next.
Leave us a comment on who you would like to see the new WBO champion take on next.
Header photo by Ed Mulholland
Chris Algieri
vs.
Manny Pacquiao
Photo by David Becker – Getty Images
This bout would pit the WBO Junior Welterweight and WBO Welterweight champions. This could be a great and interesting fight because of each mans style.
Stylistically Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) is a classic boxer, while Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) is a boxer-puncher.
Would Pacquiao’s power and dazzling quickness be too much for the good boxer?
Pacquiao’s elite boxer-puncher style was on full display against a solid boxer in Timothy Bradley this past April.
Pac Man left no doubt that he earned a unanimous decision in the rematch by using his quickness and combinations to get in and out of Bradley’s range.
However, what Algieri validated in the Provodnikov bout is that he can overcome serious adversity from a vicious brawler and that he has enough poise to showcase his very good boxing abilities throughout a grueling fight.
Can Algieri, who is the taller, lengthier fighter, out box the future hall of famer Pacquaio en route to unifying the WBO Junior Welterweight and WBO Welterweight belts?
Boxing communities all over the world can only dream how this outcome would conclude.
Chris Algieri
vs.
Timothy Bradley
Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
While not the most action-packed option, Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) the boxer and Timothy Bradley (31-1, 12 KOs) the counter puncher would be an ideal matchup of boxers.
Algieri most likely would likely move up to Welterweight or even agree on a catch weight against “Desert Storm.”
How would Bradly adjust to the slick, rangy and smart boxer?
Bradley would be going up against a three inch reach disadvantage, which Ruslan Provodnikov found out can be difficult to overcome.
From the start, Algieri would need to take advantage of his reach and set the tone with jabs.
For Bradley, his counter punching and activity rate would need to be sharp to earn rounds throughout the fight.
A major promotional question would be if both men could draw enough attention and sell enough tickets to justify an HBO main event.
Chris Algieri
vs.
Juan Manuel Marquez
Photo by Steve Marcus/Reuters
If Chris Algieri’s (20-0, 8 KOs) potential bout against Manny Pacquiao falls through, then a bout against another genuine boxer, Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KOs) make sense.
Algieri would have a three inch height advantage and a five inch reach advantage battling the legendary Marquez.
This Welterweight matchup would display two very good boxers, one young and one old.
For Algieri would want to establish his jab and use his reach to dictate the fight from the outside—as is the case in most of these potential matchups.
“Dinamita” would look to counter punch and land a precise, lethal bomb to knockout Algieri.
Which fighter would be able to expose their opponent’s weakness en route to victory?
Pure boxing fans would be very delighted about this matchup, but for the casual boxing fan, most likely not.
