Algieri outpoints Provodnikov, Andrade halts Rose
Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 KO’s) defeated WBO light welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov (23-3, 16 KO’s) by a 12 round split decision on Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The final judges scores were 117-109 for Provodnikov, and 114-112, 114-112 for Algieri.
Provodnikov knocked Algieri down twice in the 1st round, suggesting champion Provodnikov would be in for a short night. But could never knock him down again.
Provodnikov caught Algieri with a big left hook to the head that put him on the canvas for the first knockdown. Moments later, Provodnikov knocked Algieri down again with a chopping right hand. The left hook that Provodnikov landed for the first knockdown injured Algieri’s right eye.
Algieri boxed well throughout the encounter despite the badly bruised and swollen right eye. He landed more punches though Provodnikov seemed to land the harder punches.
Algieri’s right eye swelled up more and more with each round and by the 12th it was completely closed.
Provodnikov was always looking for one big shot in each round, while the native New Yorker got the better of the Russian as the rounds wore on, using precision punching to cope with his rival’s obvious power.
"The shots I was getting hit with the first four rounds, they were few and far between," said Algieri afterwards. "They were big, but they were lunging shots - he caught me on the end of the shots. Really the only shot that hurt me was that first shot," the new champion added.
Provodnikov said after the fight “Runners aren’t my style. He was jabbing and touching me. This is the worst style for me. I have trouble with that style. I like guys that stand in front of me and fight me. I promised that I gave an exciting fight. The fans weren’t sleeping.”
Also on the card, WBO light middleweight title-holder Demetrius Andrade (21-0, 14 KOs) stopped Britain's Brian Rose (25-2-1, 7 KOs) in seven rounds.
Southpaw Andrade dropped Rose with a straight left in the 1st round and although the challenger overcame the setback, the American had him down again in the 3rd, this time courtesy of a counter right hook.
Once again the Blackpool boxer climbed off the canvas, but continued to take punishment and by the 7th, referee Michael Griffin decided he had seen enough, Rose was busted up at that point and bleeding from the nose, halting the bout at 1:19 of the round.
Other results on the card:
Sean Monaghan W Elvir Muriqi UD 10
Fedor Papazov W Miguel Angel Mendoza TKO 3
Heather Hardy W Jackie Trivilino TD 7
Simeon Hardy W Malcolm Terry TKO 2
Chris Galeano W Malik Jackson UD 4