Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) won a surprising split decision victory over Ruslan Provodnikov (23-3, 16 KOs) to win the WBO Light Welterweight title at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The fight was the main event of a card presented by HBO Boxing, Top Rank Promotions, Banner Promotions, and Star Boxing Promotions.
Provodnikov, the 30-year-old from Beryozovo, Russia, had an auspicious start as he dropped Algieri with a left hook in the first round that immediately made Algieri’s left eye swell.
Provodnikov then landed a short right hand behind Algieri’s head and a short uppercut up the middle as Algieri looked as if he took a knee under the pressure, earning Provodnikov a second knockdown.
Second knockdown for Ruslan in Round 1 #ProvodnikovAlgieri #boxing pic.twitter.com/Tl4jKwqxb7
— RoundByRoundBoxing (@RBRBoxing) June 15, 2014
In the second round, Algieri seemed to find his rhythm, landing a powerful uppercut on the outside that snapped Provodnikov’s head back.
Algieri had an even better round in the third, landing body shots and hooks on a relentless Provodnikov, who landed the harder punches.
Indeed, although Algieri landed more punches throughout the fight, Provodnikov’s punches were much stronger and more effective.
Algieri spent the better part of the fight landing many punches from the outside but was overwhelmed by the fewer number of punches Provodnikov landed.
In the six and seventh rounds, Algieri’s face was a bloody mess and his left eye was almost shut completely, but he was not dissuaded.
In the eighth round and ninth rounds, Algieri had his best rounds of the fight, avoiding more punches than before and using different angles to land punches.
Before the eleventh round, Provodnikov’s trainer, Freddie Roach, believed that the fight was too close for his comfort and asked Provodnikov to look for the knockout.
Indeed, the fight was an example of the ever-present judge’s dilemma that occurs when a fighter with brute force faces an effective boxer with a huge power disadvantage.
Roach seemed to be aware of this as he urged Provodnikov for the knockout.
A reinvigorated Provodnikov grew more aggressive after Roach’s words but was not as successful as he was in the first few rounds of the fight.
Algieri continued outboxing Provodnikov, making a spirited effort and rising to the occasion to win the fight on at least two of judges’ scorecards.
One judge scored the fight 117-109 for Provodnikov, while two scored it 114-112 and 114-112 for the 30-year-old from Huntington, New York.
While many disagreed with the judges’ scorecards, one can argue that Algieri indeed delivered a boxing clinic, although receiving the harder punches.
Provodnikov’s post-fight comments don’t do much to argue his case for a win as he stated, “I have to admit, runners are not my style. I like guys that stand there and fight me. This is the worst style for me.”
It’s called boxing, and when facing a fighter who is good at it, Provodnikov admittedly has some trouble.
Demetrius Andrade (20-0, 13 KOs) vs. Brian Rose (25-1-1, 7 KOs)
Andrade lands a thudding punch #ProvodnikovAlgieri #boxing pic.twitter.com/KMLzKtvqDe
— RoundByRoundBoxing (@RBRBoxing) June 15, 2014
In the co-main event, Demetrius Andrade successfully defended his WBO Light Middleweight title in a seventh-round stoppage of Brian Rose.
The 26-year-old Andrade started off quickly, landing sharp jabs, left hands and right hooks nearly at will on Rose.
Andrade dropped Rose with a straight left hand in the first round, after which he was able to land a fusillade of punches around Rose’s tight peek-a-boo stance.
Andrade was a bit reckless throughout the fight, receiving a right hand early that left a mark above his left eye. Andrade nonetheless grew more comfortable and dominant as the fight progressed.
In the third round, Andrade dropped Rose for a second time with a powerful counter right hook.
Rose took his time to get back to his feet, but it was clear that he on the verge of an early stoppage.
Rose would then fall deeper into the defensive curl that had begun in the first round, perhaps dissuaded by Andrade’s speed and hoping for a knockout that, with his 7 knockouts, was beyond his capability.
In the seventh round, Andrade looked for a stoppage as he began teeing off on a bloody Rose.
After a thudding left hand and a few shots around Rose’s defense, the referee finally stopped the fight.
Andrade, who hails from Providence, Rhode Island, was dominant in the first title defense of his WBO Light Middleweight title, but his susceptibility to the right hand would be a problem against power punchers in his division such as Saul Alvarez.
