Chris Algieri was coming off two losses. But even though those defeats came against a pair of very recognizable names in Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan, he nevertheless needed a win over Erick Bone on Dec. 5 in order to remain in the running for fights with other recognizable names in the welterweight division.
Algieri got the win, fighting in the trenches for a 10-round unanimous decision over his tough opponent and moving to 21-2 with 8 KOs. One name mentioned afterward by promoter Lou DiBella (who promoted the card while working with boxing adviser Al Haymon) was Andre Berto ? DiBella thought ?it would be a hell of a fight.?
Algieri was open to the idea of facing Berto, who is coming off a clear loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Mayweather?s last fight. ?He?s a big top guy in the welterweight division,? Algieri said. ?Why not? It?s a great fight.?
But two people Algieri definitely wants are people he?s already faced.
?I would love to get Manny, I would love to get Khan,? Algieri said. ?I feel like I have unfinished business with those guys. I did not perform the way that I know I can against Pacquiao. And with Khan, it was just a great fight. Why not??
Algieri was dropped several times and blown out on the scorecards by Pacquiao in November 2014. He proceeded to give Khan a much more difficult fight this past May than many anticipated, losing a unanimous decision.
The former 140-pound titleholder sees a number of opportunities available at 147.
?The welterweight division is stacked,? Algieri said. ?There?s so many guys. I have never picked an opponent. I didn?t pick Erick tonight. This was the fight that was brought up. I thought I was fighting other guys until weeks ago. I?m a throwback in that way. Who we fight is who we fight.?
