Undefeated Jr. Welterweight, Chris Algieri (15-0 7 KOs), is preparing to face off against Jose Peralta (10-1 6 KOs) in a junior welterweight showdown on February 23rd live from The Paramount Theater in Algieri’s hometown of Huntington, NY. The bout, scheduled for 10 rounds, will be the televised main event on NBC Sports Network’s Fight Night.
This will mark Algieri’s 5th consecutive performance in front of his hometown crowd at The Paramount Theater, where he enjoys a tremendous reception. Successful ticket sales aren’t the only benefactor from being a draw for Algieri, who admits his confidence level receives a boost when he is in front of his family, friends, and fans.
“I’m always excited to fight in front of my hometown crowd because it’s a sense of familiarity and it helps me stay in my comfort zone, which in turn adds to my performance in the ring. I think it really is a win-win situation because I get their support and they get the performance that comes from their support. I always want and look to impress, but in front of my people I get a heightened sense of awareness that usually translates into something special,” Algieri said.
Peralta as an opponent will bring the confidence of an 8 fight win streak into the ring and the experience of upsetting a highly touted prospect in one of his previous outings. This is a tough test for Algieri, but he insists that he relishes in the challenge and knows a win could put him in the driver seat for even more lucrative opportunities.
“I want this. I want to fight good fighters. It will make me perform up to my potential. It is time for me to step up and this is the kind of step up that will make me shine!”
NBC Sports Network has put on some of the best televised cards since their premier in 2012 and the reputation has only grown since then. Algieri can benefit from being on a network known for action fights and competitive bouts.
“I’m looking to capitalize on this television appearance. I’m excited about the opportunity to be on TV and a win under the spotlight could really open doors. People have a thing for compelling TV and boxing as a sport is as compelling as any. With boxing, there are situations that entice you to watch even if you aren’t familiar with the sport. You don’t have to know the fighters when the fight starts, but it’s up to the fighters to make them remember when it’s over. They’ll remember me after February 23rd.”
Humberto Romero, who co-manages Algieri with Damian Ramirez added, “Chris has worked very hard to get into the position he’s in. The fact that he’s fighting on national television is exactly what he needs to take his career to the next level. He’s got all the ingredients to become a star in this sport and his golden opportunity has arrived.”
