By Anson Wainwright

Just over a week ago Ruslan Provodnikov stunning lost his WBO junior welterweight title by split decision against unheralded Chris Algieri.

 

Provodnikov dropped to 23-3 with 16 stoppages at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY. Although Max De Luca voted 117-109 in favor of the “Siberian Rocky” he was outvoted by Don Trella and Max Shreck who had Algieri winning 114-112 twice.

 

Provodnikov got off to the perfect start, dropping Algieri heavily in the opening round. Algieri’s right eye began to swell before he took a second trip to the canvas and an early night looked on the cards.

 

Vadim Kornilov, the manager of Provodnikov, agreed with krikya360.com that his charge looked one-dimensional and devoid of ideas of how to set anything up.

 

“Definitely,” said Kornilov “He was just loading up to finish the fight, he thought he had the fight already [won] after the first round.”

 

However someone forgot to tell Algieri, who dug himself a foot hole in the fight over the next few rounds. The severe damage to his eye threatened to curtail the fight at any moment, but he continued to box from a distance forcing Provodnikov to give chase, which was something he was unable to successful do.

 

With the clock winding down, Algieri continued to show considerable heart and crossed the finishing line where he was awarded the decision.

 

When asked if he believes the loss will impact his fighter from getting future fights with the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez or a rematch with Tim Bradley - Kornilov was indifferent.

 

“In some way yes, but I don't think that's it's very much a factor," he said "I just think some fighters are more relieved now thinking that they won't have to fight Ruslan because he has just lost, but he will be back better and stronger.”

 

Kornilov also revealed what Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach told him after the fight.

 

“That we didn’t lose the fight, no matter what they said, Freddie said that Algieri didn't do enough to take the title from Ruslan.”

 

While it remains early days Kornilov says a rematch is a distinct possibility.

 

“Definitely, Ruslan will knock Algieri out in the rematch, this time Ruslan will take this fight the way he took the (Tim) Bradley and the (Mike) Alvarado fights.”

 

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him at