Tonight, from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, hard punching Ruslan Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBO Junior Welterweight Championship against undefeated boxer/puncher from Huntington, New York, Chris Algieri (19-0, 8 KOs).
Although the reigning title holder is a 7 to 1 favorite on most sports books, the current CEO of Top Rank, Inc. believes that the pre-med scholar from the Empire State has a very good chance of pulling off the upset in this evening?s ?HBO: Boxing After Dark? headliner.
?The fight that I?m going to try and zero in on and put together is Pacquiao vs. Algieri, after Chris beats Provodnikov on June 14th,? admits Bob Arum.
?I really think Algieri has a good shot to win this fight. I think he has the style to beat Ruslan Provodnikov.?
The 30 year old ring technician has a four inch height advantage and a six inch reach advantage over the fighter most affectionately known as ?Siberian Rocky?, but has never faced another fighter with the power, durability, and experience of the current title holder.
Though Algieri does indeed have the tools to give Ruslan some stylistic problems throughout the scheduled twelve round contest, the crafty, orthodox pugilist will have to control the distance with his jab, and remember to use his feet as the foundation of his defense.
While the local favorite has the ability and intelligence to make things interesting in tonight?s main event, the defending champ possesses the power and tenacity to put a fighter?s lights out with one clean shot.
Can the unheralded title challenger keep the fight in the center of the ring, stay off the ropes, and land the cleaner, more effective shots against a relentless power puncher like Ruslan Provodnikov for three minutes of every round?
After considering the awesome power and pressure style of the ?Russian Express?, Bob began to recant his initial prediction of an Algieri upset.
?It?s at least a much better fight than most people think,? states the 82 year old boxing promoter.
?Provodnikov vs. Algieri? will headline a night of championship boxing, including the co- main event featuring undefeated WBO junior middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade (20-0, 13 KOs), of Providence, RI, making his first title defense, against No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger Brian Rose (25-1-1, 7 KOs), of Blackpool, England.
The Provodnikov ? Algieri world title fight will take place Saturday night, June 14, and will be televised live from Brooklyn?s Barclays Center on HBO Boxing After Dark?. The telecast will begin at 10:00 P.M. ET/PT
