Algieri Pulls Off Major Upset Of WBO Champ Provodnikov

The landscape of the 140 pound division changed dramatically last night as challenger Chris Algieri posted a split decision over reigning WBO champion Ruslan Provodnikov at Barclays’ Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The evening started out all wrong for the far less experienced local man as a whipping Provodnikov left hook detonated squarely on Algieri’s right eye and nose in the first round.

Algieri was struck flush and the full force of the shot seemed to lift the Huntington man off his feet and onto the canvas. Algieri immediately somersaulted upright, blinking and pawing at his instantly swelling eye.

As Provodnikov moved in for the kill, he rammed home a short uppercut that forced Algieri to take a knee. Algieri managed to beat the count and survived the first round.

From the second round on, Algieri turned the tide of the bout, using his height and reach advantage, along with sharp footwork, to neutralize the power and aggressiveness of his Russian foe.

Provodnikov continued to come forward, looking to repeat his early success but was constantly thwarted as Algieri kept on the move, preventing his antagonist from setting up an effective offense.

When Provodinkov did manage to get his quarry on the ropes, Algieri moved within the arc of punches to shorten them, greatly reducing their power or managed to clinch and back the champion off.

The light hitting Algieri seamlessly mixed offense, defense, footwork and the jab, long punches and short, to keep heavy-handed Provodnikov at bay and off balance, providing a frustrating evening for the man from Beryozovo, Russia.

When scores were read, Provodnikov was wildly ahead on one at 117-109, while Algieri took the others by the slim margin of 114-112.

By split decision, Algieri, 20-0 (8), acquires the WBO title in his first bout at world class while Provodnikov, 23-3 (16), loses his crown in a first defense.

Expect a rematch, perhaps in Las Vegas, in the Autumn.

In the other big bout on the bill, another first time world title aspirant wasn’t so lucky as Britain’s Brian Rose, 25-2-1 (7), was outgunned by southpaw WBO light middle champ Demetrius Andrade, 21-0 (14).

Rose’s standup, high-guard European style may have proved effective at home but it wasn’t much use against the far more fluid Andrade, who was just too quick, zipping in shots through the gloves of the challenger.

Andrade’s power was also a problem for “The Lion” as Rose was on the canvas in the first and third frames. Rose showed great heart as he never stopped trying but by the seventh, the contest was waved off at 1:19 of the round.

On the undercard, unbeaten prospect Sean Monaghan, 22-0 (15), saw off veteran Elvir Muriqui, 40-6 (24), by a wide points margin after 10 rounds for the WBC Continental Americas light heavyweight strap.