Algieri aiming for rejuvenating home triumph over Bone
Published:
Lee Gormley | December 2, 2015
Chris Algieri v Erick Bone
- Sunday, December 6th
- Scheduled for: 02:00 GMT
- Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
- Live on Box Nation
Algieri targeting resurgent Bone victory
New York fighter Chris Algieri (20-2, 8 KOs) comes into his latest bout on the back of his only two career losses, having suffered decision defeats to both Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan, but he will be searching for a resurgent victory over Erick Bone (16-2, 8 KOs) on home soil this weekend, as he features on the undercard of the WBA middleweight title bout between champion Daniel Jacobs (30-1, 27 KOs) and former WBO victor Peter Quillin (32-0-1, 23 KOs).
The 31-year-old makes a return to the ring after being outpointed by Bolton’s Khan in July, but that result didn’t tell the entire story, with Algieri having put on a strong showing on home turf, a far more astute outing than his brave but unsuccessful six-knockdown decision loss to ‘Pacman’ in November last year.
In fact, as it turned out, Algieri’s encouraging performance against Khan actually scuppered the Briton’s already-slim chances of facing Floyd Mayweather for his farewell fight before announcing retirement and he is the odds-on 1/14 favourite with Coral for victory over Bone. The irony was that there was plenty of talk regarding the New Yorker contesting former world champion Andre Berto, following his loss to Khan, but he of course was chosen instead as Mayweather’s final foe.
“There was some talk of that,” Algieri stated regarding a Berto bout. “I was surprised how that all went down. It can be a crazy business.”
The home fighter will contest Ecuadorian competitor Bone at the Barclays Center in the early hours of Sunday morning, in a scheduled 10-round bout which he will seek a career revival and look begin a new chapter following previous set-backs.
Algieri ready for next level
Following a promising showing against Khan, Algieri’s latest fight may not set pulses racing in terms of marketability or outside attraction, but he believes it’s the right choice for him at this stage of his career, in what will be only his second contest under he guidance of newly-appointed trainer David Jackson during the weekend’s fighting action.
“This is just a way for me to right the ship,” Algieri said during preparations at his training camp in Florida. “I need to keep improving, keep learning. This is another battle for me to get tested and to get better and move forward.”
Despite coming out on the wrong side of the judges’ scorecards in that previous loss, a highly-driven Algieri outlined that his trust and belief in Jackson was compounded.
“We’ve been treating that fight as if it was a win, and we got right back to work consistently since then,” Algieri continued.
“My power has always been there. We were just able to bring it out in that training camp. I’m blending my boxing ability with my ability to sit down and bang when I need to. It’s one of those things where you never know what you’re going to get, and that mystery can be a very powerful weapon.”
Bullish Bone a potential threat?
In South American foe Bone, the New Yorker comes up against a fighter five years his junior, who stands at an identical 5ft 10in and possesses a longer 72-inch reach. Although, he was dispatched in his most recent bout by former IBF welterweight title-holder Shawn Porter following two fifth-round knockdowns earlier this summer, and is 13/2 to overcome Algieri this time around.
“He may not be as physical as some of the guys I’ve been with, but it’s a new style and it’s a little bit awkward,” Algieri added. “Trying to figure him out is going to be important once that bell rings.
“Knockouts come, and that’s great. But in either case, I’m looking to put a major statement out there for the welterweight division.
“The sky’s the limit in 2016. There’s a lot of great fights out there, great opportunities. Having another fight, another win and another training camp with John catapults us right into the mix of all the top welterweights.”
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Coral’s top tip: Chris Algieri could be a star of 2016 and you can back him at 1/16 to overcome Erick Bone this weekend.
