Junior Welterweight

Lightweight king Terence Crawford, less than a week removed from his dismantling of consensus No. 2 Raymundo Beltran, won't be sitting on his throne much longer. 

As ESPN's Dan Rafael wrote on Monday, Top Rank and HBO are targeting a return to the ring for Crawford in the junior welterweight division in March or April. An opponent has yet to be decided, but there's really only one viable option: former WBO titlist Chris Algieri. 

Algieri's marketability and unthreatening skill set make him the perfect opponent to help springboard Crawford into worldwide stardom in his return to 140 pounds, his first foray at light welterweight since decisioning the power-hitting Breidis Prescott over 10 rounds in March 2013. 

Photos: @Budcrawford402 makes his case for Fighter of the Year w/a win over @Beltranboxing http://t.co/hhnRnMhJb3. pic.twitter.com/6cVQBTOvdz

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) November 30, 2014

As of late, Crawford, nicknamed "Bud," has run roughshod all over the lightweight division. 2014 was a breakout year for him, highlighted by a points win over Ricky Burns in Scotland for the WBO strap and a dominant title defense against the aforementioned Ray Beltran.

And who could forget about his exhilarating TKO 9 over previously unbeaten Yuriorkis Gamboa in June? He's likely the favorite to walk away with most publications' Fighter of the Year award when calendars flip over at the end of the month. And with a change in time, comes a necessary change in opposition.

In case you missed Terence Crawford's KO of Gamboa, here are the last two knockdowns... https://t.co/tJUFgEtiXb

— Gorilla Productions (@GPboxing) June 29, 2014

Crawford, 27, said in the post-fight presser to his second world title defense that he's been competing at lightweight since he was a teenager: 

"I've been at 135, 132 since I was 17, 16. I'm 27 now. It's that time [to move up to 140]." - @budcrawford402

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) November 30, 2014

Considering the way he ballooned up to 153 pounds (a light middleweight) come fight time, per HBO's unofficial scales, a jump in weight class can only be beneficial and was surely a simple decision to make.

But finding the right dance partner isn't so easy.

Thrilling as they might be, matchups with fighters managed by Al Haymon are off the table courtesy of his and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum's refusal to play nice together. This frustrating game of boxing politics eliminates most of the junior welterweight division's top draws, including champions Danny Garcia (WBC, WBA) and Lamont Peterson (IBF) as well as the concussion-inducing Lucas Matthysse and brash-talking Adrien Broner. 

Fellow Top Rank stable mate Mike Alvarado is also out of consideration now that he is set to throw down with Brandon Rios for the third time in late January, per ESPN. Considering the brutality of their first two meetings, a two- or three-month turnaround to fight Crawford would just be impossible. 

A showdown, however, with Alvarado's conqueror, Ruslan Provodnikov, is entirely probable, as is a bout with the undefeated Jessie Vargas. Both fights would make for great fun. 

Mauricio Herrera makes a lot of sense, too—provided he gets past 22-year-old wunderkind Jose Benavidez next weekend.

But Herrera, Provodnikov and Vargas, do not move the proverbial needle as much as Arum would want for his budding superstar, who is on track to eventually meet up with boxing celebrity Manny Pacquiao.

So who does?

Pac-Man's most recent opponent, Chris Algieri.

Algieri's rise has been nothing short of meteoric. In a mere 14 months, this former professional kickboxer went from fighting Wilfredo Acuna who was just two wins above .500 at the time (14-12) to headlining a pay-per-view show with arguably the greatest fighter of the last decade and a payday of more than $1 million (h/t Adam Wells, Bleacher Report). That sum being an incredible ten times his previous biggest purse ($100,000 against Provodnikov in June). 

Despite the fistic trimming he took at the hands of Pacquiao, Algeiri still has his good looks, he still has his smooth boxing ability and he's still marketable. Pacquiao's name is still attached to him among fans. Arum and Co. need to run with that momentum while they still can. And it doesn't hurt that he's proved to be fully capable of entertaining a crowd.

His last fight with Pacquiao may have been over the junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds, and it did take Algieri two attempts to make the 144-pound catchweight, but the New York native was adamant during the post-fight press conference that he can still fight at either light welterweight or welterweight.

"I can contest at either weight class," he said. "I'll go to my team and figure out the best route for 2015."

With the money he'd make fighting Crawford (which guarantees to be more than $100,000), this former world champion with a master's degree in nutrition won't have a problem signing his name on the dotted line to drop back down to 140 pounds.

And to Crawford and Top Rank's avail, Algieri is no puncher. He's the farthest thing from it. He trades off of a silky-smooth fighting style that's registered just eight knockouts in 21 pro fights and one lone stoppage win since 2011. 

Is there possibly a better stylistic matchup for a talent like Crawford—with an excellent chin—than a high-profile, pillow-fisted fighter like Algieri?

There isn't.

"Bud," on the other hand, possesses a scary sort of pop in his punches. As much as he dazzles onlookers with his swiftness, like all great fighters, he carries something wicked inside those fists of his.

Dropping Gamboa four times like he did is nothing to gloss over. Not when the Cuban tangled with the violent-hitting men he did at featherweight and super featherweight like Orlando Salido, Daniel Ponce De Leon and Michael Farenas. 

Pacquiao couldn't take Algieri out. Imagine if Crawford did. 

Ruslan Provodnikov (23-3, 16 KO) won't have to chase his opponent on Friday night. The slugging Siberian light welterweight will take on over-the-hill Mexican brawler Jose Luis Castillo (66-12-1, 57 KO) in a bout that should feature a lot of punches and blood.

Provodnikov will have mounds of local support in the bout, as it will take place at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

For all intents and purposes, the fight looks like a one-sided mismatch in favor of the home-standing Provodnikov. Castillo is 40 years old and far removed from the top form that made him one of the sport's most exciting fighters.

To be honest, it would be a shock if he's able to remain competitive for more than a round.

There's no television or live stream available for the fight. Considering the lack of parity here, perhaps that's a good thing. Here's a closer look at each fighter.

The Fight He Wants

Provodnikov is a slow-footed plodder who will forever have issues with any fighter capable of employing lateral movement against him. Chris Algieri shook off two early knockdowns against the hard-punching Siberian and outboxed him the rest of the way to take Provodnikov's WBO light welterweight title.

Had Timothy Bradley boxed smarter against Provodnikov back in 2013, most people probably wouldn't even know who the 31-year-old from Beryozovo, Russia, is today. 

Despite being a vastly superior boxer, Bradley wanted to prove his toughness back in March 2013, and he decided to try and trade with Provodnikov. The result was the fight of the year, a much closer scorecard than what should have been and Bradley taking some unnecessary head damage.

Bradley won the fight, but Provodnikov's star rose even in defeat. He parlayed that into a title shot against then-WBO champion Mike Alvarado, a fighter not known for his movement. Provodnikov pounded Alvarado into submission and took his title before Algieri would take it away from him in June.

Algieri's movement, jab and length saw him routinely snap Provodnikov's head back and easily outfight him over the last 10 rounds of the bout. Because Alvarado didn't have the necessary mobility, he was a sitting duck.

Fortunately for Provodnikov, Castillo is not a mover either.

Even in his early years, he was a stand-and-fight guy. Certainly at the age of 40, he's more apt to remain in the pocket. For a fighter like Provodnikov, this is a custom-made opponent handpicked to make him look good in his hometown.

Impossible Mission

Let's be clear: Barring some sort of miracle, there is no way Castillo can win this fight.

In his day, Castillo was as tough a customer as there was at lightweight. He lost two unanimous decisions to Floyd "Money" Mayweather in 2002, but both were competitive. In fact, the first bout was the only fight I've ever scored against Mayweather.

In 2005, he had back-to-back wars with the late Diego Corrales. The first one is widely considered to be one of the best fights of the last 25 years. Corrales won it dramatically by stopping Castillo in the 10th round.

Castillo would win the rematch decisively by stopping Corrales in the fourth round. 

Nine years later, Castillo is a shell of himself. He's won two fights in a row, but neither of those wins came against opponents on Provodnikov's level. Jose Luis Payan and Felix Bojorquez aren't exactly on track to become household names.

There comes a point where one has to wonder whether this is even a safe fight for Castillo to participate in. Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole strongly feels this matchup is in poor taste. He isn't the only one who has an issue with the fight.

Boxing sportscaster Rich Marotta and UCN's Steve Kim had their say:

I am distressed, depressed and disgusted that Provodnikov-Jose Luis Castillo is going forward. Have real fear for Castillos health/safety

— Rich Marotta (@boxingrich) November 24, 2014

“@Grundu @steveucnlive @PugilisticUnit @lomachaka If Castillo wins I will eat Provodnikov.” hope ur hungry!!!

— Steve Kim - the Thomas Sowell of Boxing (@SteveKim323) November 26, 2014

Iole took promoter Arthur Pelullo to task for the pairing, writing:

These are the kinds of bouts that give boxing a bad name. It's difficult to fathom a credible athletic commission in the U.S. would ever sanction a Provodnikov-Castillo match. Pairing a shot fighter like Castillo against a quality opponent in his prime is a recipe for disaster. If something bad happens to Castillo, it's something Pellulo will have to live with for the rest of his life.

 It's hard to disagree with that notion.

Prediction

Provodnikov will win big. Let's just hope Castillo isn't seriously injured.

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If Ricky Burns (36-4-1, 11 KO) doesn't beat Alexandre Lepelley (17-1-1, 3 KO), he should retire from the sport of boxing. Pardon me if that sounds blunt, but Burns' situation is plain and simple.

The former featherweight and lightweight champion is coming off four straight less-than-impressive performances. He came away with the loss in the last two. This bout against the lesser-known Lepelley is the epitome of a must-win bout.

Lepelley is actually a late replacement for Esteban Gonzalez, per Edward Chaykovsky of Boxing Scene. The Frenchman is gravely inexperienced compared to Burns' usual competition, and his modest KO total implies he doesn't bring a ton of power into the ring.

Alexandre Lepelley is now facing Ricky Burns this weekend, its not better or worse to be honest

— EBOXINGNEWS (@EBOXINGNEWS) October 1, 2014

It could be an easy night for Burns; then again, he is moving up in weight to 140 pounds. There is at least a glimmer of uncertainty as to how well he'll handle the weight. Want to find out for yourself? Here's how you can watch.

When: Saturday, October 4, 3:30 p.m. ET

Where: First Direct Arena, Leeds, Yorkshire, United Kingdom

TV: Sky Sports 2

Will the Going Be Easier at 140 Pounds?

It feels as if Burns is on a journey to find the weight class where he can still compete on a world-class level. He's going to try his hand at light welterweight.

His manager, Alex Morrison, thinks it's time Burns move up. Per Phil Goodlad of BBC.com, Morrison blames Burns' struggle to make weight for the fighter's poor recent perfomances.  

Morrison said: "Ricky was finding it harder to make the weight, he was virtually eating nothing before the weigh-in. I think that had a lot to do with his last three performances."

Burns is known for his toughness and resiliency. If he can ascend in the rankings and face the bigger punchers at 140 pounds, he'll need those qualities. While Lepelley doesn't bring the type of TNT into the bout that, say, Ruslan Provodnikov would, the increased size and power of light welterweights is something for Burns and his team to consider looking ahead.

Can he take the punch of a strong light welterweight? Perhaps an even bigger question is: Can he make 140-pounders respect him? At smaller weight classes throughout his career, Burns has only managed to stop 11 opponents.

Those are issues that may not rear their heads on Saturday but can't be ignored in the future.

Who is Alexandre Lepelley?

If you're not in his camp, you probably don't know the answer to that question. The 32-year-old has never had a fight scheduled for more than eight rounds, and he's rarely fought outside of France.

There's next to nothing to see of him on YouTube, which could be seen as an indication of his skill level. However, boxing is a crazy sport that can sometimes surprise. 

Lepelley will be hoping he can be the newest one.

Prediction

From the brief video I saw of Lepelley, it didn't appear as though speed was one of his assets. Because he seems to lack power, it's going to be hard to imagine him beating Burns without having an advantage in either category.

Burns is still a skilled fighter, but he's seemingly had issues against more physically talented opponents of late. 

That won't be the case on Saturday. He'll likely get the stoppage win and confidence boost he needs to push him into his next bout.

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LeBron James came home to Cleveland, and now Adrien "The Problem" Broner (28-1, 22 KO) is coming home to Cincinnati.

OK, it may not be the same thing, but Broner's homecoming is fairly noteworthy for the Ohio boxing scene. On Saturday, Broner will take on Emanuel "Tranzformer" Taylor (18-2, 12 KO) at the U.S. Bank Arena as the main event of a Showtime-televised card. 

After losing to Marcos Rene Maidana in 2013, Broner is in the second stage of his comeback. He easily handled light-punching Carlos Molina in May. Now he sets his sights on Taylor as The Problem attempts to climb back into the world-title picture at 140 pounds.

Cincinnati is not normally the host of major fight cards, but Broner's star power has helped to bring the city to the forefront in the boxing world—at least for one night.

Here's a look at the rest of the card, per ESPN.com. It features two other big names and another local product in Rau'Shee Warren.

• Lucas Matthysse vs. Roberto Ortiz, 12 rounds, junior welterweights
• Andre Berto vs. Steve Upsher Chambers, 10 rounds, welterweights
• Terrell Gausha vs. TBA, eight or 10 rounds, middleweights
• Mike Perez vs. Jared Robinson, 10 rounds, junior welterweights
• Rau'Shee Warren vs. Jose Luis Araiza, 10 rounds, bantamweights 

Fight Time: 9:30 p.m. ET

Date: Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014

TV Info: Showtime

 

Looking to Impress the Home Crowd

Adrien Broner hits the mitts in Cincinnati, Ohio (Hogan Photos) pic.twitter.com/ph4rcPhxT3

— Boxing Insider Promotions (@BoxingInsider) September 4, 2014

Not many former world champions hail from The Natti these days. The city has produced all-time greats like Ezzard Charles and Aaron Pryor, but over the last 20 years, Broner is the town's best hope for a boxing superstar.

Oscar says he still believes @AdrienBroner is all that, wasn't over-hyped. http://t.co/Jx7Bq0GOtd

— Michael Woods (@Woodsy1069) September 2, 2014

The Problem has already won a world title in three weight classes, but most wouldn't consider him a superstar just yet. At only 25, he certainly has time, and his best days could still be ahead of him. 

. @AdrienBroner - "I'm not playing around ... I'm going to get the job done and it won't be going to a decision." Catch #BronerTaylor Sat.

— All the Smoke Fight (@ats_fight) September 4, 2014

On Saturday, Broner will undoubtedly feel the pressure to dazzle his hometown crowd. He alluded to that in comments he made in a press release from Sho.com. 

“It’s always good to fight at home," he said. "It’s overdue. I will not disappoint my Cincinnati fans. I’ll make sure to put up a good show for them. Taylor is a young, talented fighter, but he’s not ready to solve this ‘Problem.'”

With Broner, that could mean tons of in-ring antics as well as a boxing exhibition. Because he's fighting at home, the taunting and braggadocios comments he's become known for won't draw the boos they normally would. Thus, he should be as comfortable as ever on Saturday night.

Broner lovers won't want to miss it. Broner haters better have their barf bags ready.

Looking to Spoil the Homecoming

Entrenamiento público Lucas Matthysse, Roberto Ortíz, Adrien Broner, Emmanuel Taylor y más http://t.co/2qo67xFSl3 pic.twitter.com/bPepw1Qlmn

— Desde El Ring (@desdeelring) September 4, 2014

When you're a talented 23-year-old who hasn't quite scored that signature win in your career, you have to take fights against guys like Broner in their hometown. 

Sure, the odds are against you, but if you can pull off the win, it'll be huge. That's clearly a concept that Taylor understands.

Per the aforementioned press release, Taylor said: “This is the biggest fight of my career, and I won’t let it get away from me. All of those hours in the gym were for a moment like this, and I can’t wait to show the world what I can do in the ring.”

Taylor is coming off a big win over Karim Mayfield in July, so there shouldn't be any ring rust or a lack of conditioning.

Per OddsShark.com, Taylor is listed as a clear underdog (11-2). Can he pull off the massive upset in The Problem's hometown?

Prediction

In a fight like this, Taylor will have to dominate Broner to win a decision or knock him out. It seems almost impossible for him to win a close decision over Broner in Cincinnati. 

That's an aspect of boxing that many fans hate. Luckily, it won't be an issue in this fight. Taylor lacks the footwork, hand speed and power to give Broner any real issues. Taylor often stands with his feet too close together, and it doesn't allow him to get as much leverage on his punches.

His hand speed is also not going to be on par with Broner's. Lastly, the lack of substantial power won't be enough to make Broner pay for his inconsistent defense. 

Maidana was able to get to Broner because of his relentless style, underrated footwork and big punching power. The Tranzformer doesn't have a surplus of any of those three skills, and Broner will be the quicker fighter.

This all leads to a seventh-round TKO win for The Problem.

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IBF light welterweight champion Lamont "Havoc" Peterson (32-2-1, 16 KO) is always good for a thrilling and action-packed bout. Fight fans can only hope his title defense against Edgar Santana (29-4, 20 KO) on Saturday helps to energize a Showtime card that looks less than thrilling on paper.

Both Peterson and Santana are all-action fighters, and the latter boasts an impressive string of five KO wins in his last six fights. The Peterson-Santana clash is sandwiched between two potentially less attractive fights.

The main event is a bit of a mismatch, as WBA super light welterweight champion Danny "Swift" Garcia will take on "Lightning" Rod Salka in a non-title affair. 

Garcia is listed as a minus-5000 favorite over Salka per Odds Shark, so that one may not offer fans a ton of excitement.

Cancer survivor Daniel Jacobs will attempt to win his first world title by taking on Jarrod Fletcher as well. Interested in watching? Here's how you can catch the action.

When: Saturday, Aug. 10 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York

TV: Showtime

Live Stream: Box Nation (subscription required and region restricted)

Eyeing Unification

Peterson rebounded from being demolished by Lucas Matthysse in May 2013 with a solid unanimous-decision victory over the talented Dierry Jean in January.

Peterson's title was not on the line when he faced Matthysse, so he held onto the crown officially. Still, it's hard to look at a fighter as a champion after he's been thoroughly dominated like Peterson was in that bout.

One way Peterson can change his perception is to set up and win a unification bout with Garcia. It appears that is what's on Peterson's mind.

Per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael, Peterson said this about appearing on the card with the lineal 140-pound king: "I'm really excited about this fight and about making a statement to the boxing world that I'm the true junior welterweight world champion. I know Danny will be watching me, and I'll be watching him. After August 9, there will be only one fight to make at 140 pounds."

That goal seems logical, but there's one problem: Garcia looks to be positioning himself for a move to welterweight. His fight with Salka isn't a title bout because it's being held at a 142-pound catchweight.

Garcia wants to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. before he retires, and that bout will almost certainly be a 147-pound affair.

Is it possible Peterson is chasing a fight he won't get unless he moves up in weight? It seems like it.

Even then, it's hard to imagine Peterson being high on Garcia's list. Swift is looking for major paydays, and he won't be able to get that against Peterson. 

Nonetheless, the route to creating the opportunity—no matter how impractical—runs through Santana.

Better Than You Think

Many people don't know who Santana is. If the 35-year-old Puerto Rican from New York has his way on Saturday, he'll gain some notoriety with a win.

Santana was once a highly touted prospect, but an arrest and subsequent jail sentence caused a serious detour in his career path. Santana was busted and pleaded guilty to third-degree sale of a controlled substance in 2008, per Ryan Songalia of RingTV.

He did four months in jail, but the fallout from the situation left him inactive for more than three years.

Prior to getting locked up, Santana had just defeated former world champion Josesito Lopez. Santana told Songalia: "That definitely changed my perspective on life. That was a turning point for me. It was something that was in the past. We all commit mistakes; we all do things that I guess that set you back quite a bit, and it did set me back. I paid my dues, and I got right back to work."

Santana is a skilled boxer with above-average power in his right hand. When you watch him now, it's easy to see the skill that once had folks excited about his future. Yet, at 35 years old and without having faced top-notch competition in the last six years, there's room for doubt.

Some still believe he has what it takes to make some noise—especially against Peterson. Oubobcat, a commenter on The Boxing Channel website, said, "Santana definitely has a great opportunity. As I have said before, of all the opponents on this card he has by far the best opportunity to at least make things interesting."

While Peterson tries to put himself in position to unify the titles, it would be one heck of a story if Santana spoiled the party. An all-Puerto Rican unification bout between him and Garcia would probably be an even bigger draw in Brooklyn than one featuring Peterson and the WBA champ.

I'm just saying.

Prediction

Peterson only knows one way to fight. He barrels forward, throwing wide hooks and power shots. His stamina is excellent, and he has a good chin despite what we saw happen against Matthysse.

Santana's challenge is going to be creating space to work. He is the more skilled boxer and the harder puncher, but Peterson's pressure and endurance can cause problems for opponents.

Something in me wants to pick Santana to win, but something stronger says Peterson will wear him down. Look for Santana to win some early rounds but to slow down near the fifth or sixth frame.

Peterson will commit to attacking the body, and that approach will be the proverbial money in the bank. Havoc will retain his title and win a tough unanimous decision in a close and competitive fight.

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Winning a title is one thing, defending it is another. 

Reigning WBA light welterweight champion Jessie Vargas (24-0, 9 KO) accomplished the first goal in his last fight against Khabib Allakhverdiev. His next test is a stiff one.

Vargas' first title defense will come against Anton Novikov (29-0, 10 KO), a skilled Russian boxer who is also undefeated.

The bout will take place at Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on the undercard of the scheduled Brandon Rios-Diego Chaves bout, which is now subject to change due to the latter's visa issues, per Lem Satterfield of The Ring.

With Chaves' name potentially removed from the bill, Novikov vs. Vargas could become the most compelling bout on the card.

Novikov fought exclusively in Russia for the first four years of his career, but he has taken his skills abroad since 2010 to find a bigger audience and stiffer competition.

Without question, the 25-year-old Vargas will be his toughest test to date.

Fans will be heavily in Vargas' corner. He is originally from Los Angeles but now resides in Sin City. Vargas has a strong thirst for greatness. This bout is the next step in the process for him. Here's how you can watch.

When: Saturday, August 2 at 9:45 p.m. ET

Where: Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in Las Vegas

TV: HBO

Live Stream: Box Nation (subscription required)

Much to Prove

This quote from Scott Christ of Bad Left Hook sums up the perception of Novikov amongst those who have seen him fight: "Don't sleep on Novikov here -- he's been outclassing his foes and can really box."

Novikov is far from a household name, so he obviously has to prove to boxing fans that he's worthy of their attention. He also has to prove that he can perform without banned substances.

The 26-year-old had his unanimous-decision win over Karlo Tabaghua in 2012 changed to a no-contest after he failed a post-fight drug test.

That was two years ago, but it takes awhile before fighters shake off the negative perception associated with such events.

Novikov has barely lost a round since that fight. He looks strong and determined to prove he has what it takes to be a world champion.

In the video below, Novikov and his promoter Steve Bash speak at the pre-fight press conference.

Yearning for Elite Status

As a world champion in his mid-20s, the best should be yet to come for Vargas. After seeing his career stagnate while he was in Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s camp, Vargas bolted for Top Rank and has flourished since.

It was Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who got Vargas his title shot.

Now that he has attained a world championship, the next step is to get and win fights against the elite fighters of his weight region. Perhaps a win over Novikov would set up a battle against stablemate Manny Pacquiao—provided he beats Chris Algieri in November.

Even with potentially huge fights on the horizon, Vargas can't afford to overlook Novikov.

In the interview below with Sherdog.com, Vargas talks about Novikov, the title and the issue of performance-enhancing drugs.

Should Vargas beat Novikov, he may not get a ton of credit for the win from casual fans. But anyone who has ever seen Novikov fight knows that this will not be an easy bout for the champion.

Prediction

Because Vargas only has modest power, it is very difficult for him to separate himself from opponents on the scorecards. As a matter of fact, several members of the media didn't believe he deserved the decision over Allakhverdiev.

While Vargas is a good boxer with a tremendous heart, he won't overwhelm Novikov.

The Russian is slicker and better at adjusting over the course of a fight. If you watch him in his bout against Manuel Perez in Dec. 2013, Novikov outboxed a veteran who has faced the likes of Rios, Diego Magdaleno, Mercito Gesta and others.

The fight took place in Puerto Rico, but Novikov showed no issues performing away from home. That experience should help him against Vargas.

Neither fighter has the power to take the decision out of the judges' hands, so this one is likely to go the distance.

All signs point to a very close bout, but because the fight is in Vegas, and Vargas is the better known of the two, expect to see him get the benefit of the doubt on the scorecards. He'll win a split decision and retain his title.

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WBO light welterweight champion Ruslan "Siberian Rocky" Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KO) has quickly made himself one of the most feared fighters in his weight region. Many of the biggest names are hesitant to get in the ring with him, but if he continues to stop opponents in impressive fashion, the big fights will come.

Provodnikov's fans have their eyes set on the top of the hill, and as evidenced by the WBO champion's recent retweet, he's co-signing.

Until fights of that magnitude occur, we have bouts like the one scheduled for Saturday against little-known and undefeated American Chris Algieri (19-0, 8 KO).

Algieri is a good pro who hails from Huntington, New York. Since the fight takes place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the challenger should have a decent following at the event. Will that be enough to push him through to an upset win?

Check out the vital information for the bout.

When: Saturday, June 14 at 10 p.m. ET

Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn

TV: HBO

The Book on Provodnikov

With a granite chin, iron will and steel right hand, Provodnikov has already proved his mettle against the likes of Timothy Bradley and Mike Alvarado. While he lost a thrilling bout to Bradley, he pounded the tough and rugged Alvarado into submission.

After an increasingly lopsided first 10 rounds, Alvarado did not answer the bell for the 11th, and Provodnikov had captured his first world title.

The Siberian Rocky has built a reputation as a relentless pursuer of the knockout finish. But he says that's not totally his game plan.

"I don't make it a goal to knock my opponents out, I just do my best to win the fight," Provodnikov said, per Allen Trieu of Fox Sports. "If I can win without a lot of blood, I do that, or if I have the opportunity to knock him out, I do that, too. I just do my job in the ring."

Oh, but the "blood" is part of what has made Provodnikov such an intriguing champion. Because of his marginal defense and speed, Provodnikov takes a good amount of punishment in his fights, but he gives even better than he receives in most instances.

He's the imperfect, but formidable slugger.

Despite being cut in most of his recent bouts, he has never appeared to be dazed and was never close to going down. With a heavy concentration on body attacks and a seemingly endless supply of stamina, intensity and durability, Provodnikov is as dangerous as they come at 140 pounds.

The Book on Algieri

Algieri is no stiff. He's not a guy who is devoid of skills, but this still doesn't look to be a fight he has a great chance of winning. He may simply be out of his class in this one. Hamilton Nolan of HBO wrote:

Chris Algieri is the sort of hometown hero that populates the boxing world from coast to coast. He is the pride of Huntington, New York, the reliable draw at the local arena, the undefeated champ of his corner of the map. He is a talented boxer, a feel-good story, and a clean-cut and likeable man. He is about to set all of that comfort aside and volunteer for the thrashing of a lifetime.

Algieri is a big and strong light welterweight. At 5'10" with broad shoulders, he has a frame that could seemingly hold up to 160 pounds without a problem.  Against Provodnikov, he's going to need every bit of it.

The challenger is taking a major step up in class with this fight. Aside from the bout being his first shot at a world title, the class of fighter is clearly on another level.

Algieri has most often faced other up-and-coming fighters or veterans on the downside of their careers. Neither will be the case on Saturday night. Algieri is in for a war, whether he's ready for it or not.

That said, there's something special about the 30-year-old's resolve and commitment to maximizing this opportunity. He's already had to overcome a legal battle to simply compete on Saturday night. His former manager is suing him and unsuccessfully sought to have the bout cancelled.

The former kickboxer seems to know what he's gotten himself into and shows no signs of intimidation. Per Robert Cassidy of Newsday, Algieri said:

I think with Ruslan, you know what you are going to get. He's going to come forward and throw bombs. That's what he does. I am expecting that. I think our styles match up perfectly. I think this fight is all about real estate, whoever can control where the fight is happening in the ring will have the advantage.

It sounds as if Algieri has his game plan in order. That's not to say he'll win and become champion, but if he is headed for the "thrashing of a lifetime," he's going to go down giving it his best effort.

Prediction

Algieri's lack of power is the biggest problem for him in this bout. He is a sharp counterpuncher who changes levels well, but he just doesn't have the sting on his punches to slow Provodnikov's assault.

For that matter, neither did Bradley. But the difference is that Desert Storm had a huge speed advantage over Provodnikov. That's something Algieri won't have on Saturday. His notable six-inch reach advantage could be a factor, but Provodnikov has an answer for that.

The champion loves to dig to the body.

Without the speed to augment the reach, it's only a matter of time before Algieri gets worn down and stopped.

The Siberian Rocky will successfully defend his title with a middle-to-late-round stoppage.

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@BMaziqueFPBR

After winning a tough, knockdown, drag-out affair with Mike Alvarado on Saturday night, Juan Manuel Marquez is set up to take on Manny Pacquiao for a fifth time—if he wants to.

The winner of the Marquez-Alvarado bout was set to be the mandatory challenger for Pacquiao, who won the WBO welterweight title when he defeated Timothy Bradley in April.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum confirmed this per Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole:

Who wants to see a fifth fight between Marquez and Pacquiao? Well, that depends on who you ask. Some wouldn't mind seeing the two warriors slug it out again.

Others want to remember it as a great rivalry, but would like to move on to something different.

When Marquez was asked if he'd take Arum up on his offer and fight Pacquiao for a fifth time, per Top Rank Boxing on Twitter, he was non-committal.

Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix thinks Marquez is simply trying to build anticipation for the bout.

The fact of the matter is, with the Golden Boy-Top Rank issues alive and well, it may be the best fight either man can get.

There's plenty of potentially exciting fighters on the Golden Boy side, but with Marquez linked with HBO, and GBP locked to Showtime, it doesn't seem possible at this time.

At 40 years old, Marquez has to be thinking about who his final opponent(s) will be.

Here's a short list of potential opponents for Marquez—other than Pacquiao.

Brandon Rios

Per Elie Seckbach of ESNews, Rios is looking to make a comeback after his loss to Pacquiao. Marquez is the man he's calling out.

(Contains NSFW language)

This could be another slugfest similar to the one that took place on Saturday night.

However, if Alvarado couldn't solve Marquez, it stands to reason Rios wouldn't have any better luck. But you never know considering Marquez's age. Every time he fights, he's running the risk of getting old before our very eyes.

Ruslan Provodnikov

The hard-hitting Siberian stopped Alvarado to win the WBO light welterweight title in October of 2013. 

He's a former sparring partner of Pacquiao, and he fights an action-packed, crowd-pleasing style.

All of those things make him an attractive opponent for Marquez.

Provodnikov does have a fight scheduled for June against Chris Algieri. Assuming Provodnikov wins, he's got to be at least under consideration as a potential opponent for Marquez.

Jessie Vargas

After winning the IBO and WBA light welterweight titles from Khabib Allakhverdiev in April, Vargas should be a popular name for fighters in the weight region.

Vargas isn't a big name. Though he has some speed, he'd probably be the easiest fight of anyone on this list for Marquez.

It's questionable whether Vargas' name could draw the interest to make the fight worth Marquez's time.

Timothy Bradley

Marquez lost a split-decision to Bradley in October of 2013. He could look to avenge the defeat. Bradley needs an opponent after his loss to Pacquiao left him in limbo and without direction for his immediate future.

Though both are household names, matched together, Bradley and Marquez may not interest many fight fans.

This is perhaps the least desirable fight for Marquez. He'd likely be out-boxed and frustrated again by Bradley's speed.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.

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@BMaziqueFPBR

If fans get their wish, the Juan Manuel Marquez-Mike Alvarado bout on Saturday from The Forum in Inglewood, California, will be a slugfest.

The fight will air on HBO at 9 p.m. ET as part of the legendary World Championship Boxing series, though no titles are on the line.

Both men have been known to engage in wars in previous bouts, but that style may not suit both men on Saturday.

Alvarado has demonstrated the boxing ability to pick apart slugging, one-dimensional opponents in the past.

He used this strategy to outpoint Brandon Rios in their second meeting. Unfortunately for Alvarado, Marquez, at his best, is not a one-dimensional slugger.

He can box or duke it out, depending on the situation and the opponent. Opponents who have been able to keep him at a distance and out-box him have been fighters with a decisive speed advantage.

Alvarado isn't one of those fighters. 

From listening to him, it sounds as if Alvarado has a great game plan. 

We all know what Mike Tyson says about game plans...everyone has one until they get punched in the mouth.

Against Marquez, that's almost certain to happen. Even at 40 years old, Marquez hasn't shown any real indications that he's not the fighter he once was.

Alvarado is a proud and tough fighter. If he takes some shots from Marquez, he's going to want to fire back to return the favor.

As cool as that will be to watch, it's not the right approach for him.

Because he doesn't have the speed to keep Marquez away for 12 rounds, it's inevitable the fight will turn into a brawl.

When that happens, Marquez will emerge victorious based on harder punches and a better chin.

Look for a late-round stoppage win for Marquez.

The Odds

Perhaps this is the thought process of the oddsmakers. Per Steve Kim of Max Boxing, Marquez is the clear favorite.

Though both men lost their last fights, the opponent and result could have factored in to the odds as much as the fighters' styles.

Alvarado was stopped by hard-punching Siberian Ruslan Provodnikov. Alvarado lost the WBO light welterweight title he had just won from Rios in his previous fight in the process.

Marquez dropped a split-decision to Timothy Bradley. Bradley had defeated Provodnikov in a thrilling bout in early 2013. One could argue that Marquez's loss was a more respectable defeat than Alvarado's.

Expert Predictions

Bleacher Report's Briggs Seekins sees the fight unfolding as I do.

He writes: "I pick Marquez to win in nine rounds. If Alvarado presses hard and sells out aggressively as he falls behind, we could see a late stoppage for Marquez."

This plays into the aforementioned quote from Alvarado about making adjustments. If he presses the action, it'll play into Marquez's hands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFFux3OfSJg

Not everyone sees Marquez coming out on top. Norm Frauenheim of The Ring Magazine likes Alvarado. He says:

At 33, Alvarado has mileage on him. But Marquez won’t rough him up the way Ruslan Provodnikov did. Alvarado is younger. More important, he’s bigger. Look for him to be patient early and aggressive late in Marquez’s last fight before his Hall of Fame induction.

If Marquez gets old on Saturday night, the outcome Frauenheim speaks of could very well come to pass. However, it seems more likely Marquez counterpunches Father Time for one more fight.

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@BMaziqueFPBR