Amir Khan got more than he anticipated from Chris Algieri, but it wasn’t more than he could handle.
Khan vs Algieri and Fortuna vs Vasquez highlights: May 29, 2015
Chris Algieri was the unexpected aggressor for most of the fight, but Amir Khan stepped up when he needed to and won a unanimous decision Friday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, in a 147-pound bout that aired on Spike TV.
Algieri (20-2, 8 KOs) used his height and range to pose a challenge to Khan (31-3, 19 KOs), and he also showed surprising durability after being floored six times in a loss to Manny Pacquiao in his last bout in November.
Amir Khan lands a right hand during his win over Chris Algieri in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday night. (Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions)
“I don’t think I—and certainly no press or media—thought that he would fight me that way,” Khan said. “When I told everyone that I was going to be fighting Chris Algieri, people were like, ‘Really?’ They thought that it was going to be a walk in the park. But he’s a tough guy. I have a lot of respect for Chris Algieri.”
Even though he was often on the defensive, Khan still outlanded Algieri in total punches (218-199), power shots (154-145) and jabs (64-54). His performance earned him winning scores of 117-111 on two judges’ scorecards and 115-113 on the third.
“I feel good, but obviously a little bit tired,” said Khan, 28, who was sporting a cut over his left eye and bruises beneath it after the fight. “When you’ve got somebody coming after you nonstop like he was, he’s going to make you work. But I was very well-conditioned for this fight.”
Algieri pressed Khan and walked through several right hands from the opening round, managing to land some nice shots of his own. Algieri's attack continued into the third round, when the crowd began chanting his name.
Algieri found the mark in the fourth with clean lefts and rights, and went to the body with a combination in the fifth, winning both rounds on all three judges’ cards.
“He’s got a style with his long jab, long reach," Khan said. "After the first few rounds, my trainer, Virgil Hunter, was shouting at me, saying that he was winning the early rounds."
Khan dug in during the ninth and 10th, firing to the body and landing uppercuts as part of a strong showing down the stretch.
“I had to start pushing back and hurting him with shots, and I think that I won it with accuracy and more power," Khan said. "But this showed me that I have a few things that I need to work on.”
For complete coverage, including photos and videos, visit our Khan vs Algieri fight page.
Javier Fortuna leans in to stick Bryan Vasquez with a left hand during their fight in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday night. (Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions)
Javier Fortuna outlasts Bryan Vasquez to win 130-pound world title
Javier Fortuna remained unbeaten with a unanimous decision over Bryan Vasquez to win a world championship at 130 pounds.
Fortuna (28-0-1, 20 KOs) landed more total punches (237-174), power punches (199-155) and jabs (38-19) than Vasquez did.
The southpaw from the Dominican Republic was also more accurate, connecting on 37.2 percent of total punches and 44.4 percent of power punches, while Vasquez (34-2, 18 KOs) landed at 24.5 percent and 30 percent, respectively.
Fortuna, 25, gradually wore down and befuddled Vasquez, 27, starting in the fourth with his blend of power, accuracy, movement and pressure.
Vasquez, who hadn’t lost since December 2012, battled his way back into the bout with a strong showing in the eighth and ninth rounds.
Fortuna took control again, though, over the last three rounds to win the decision 117-111 on two judges’ scorecards and 116-112 on the third.
Catch all the highlights of Fortuna vs Vasquez on our fight page.
