Undefeated WBO junior welterweight champion CHRIS ALGIERI may be in training camp learning how to beat Fighter of the Decade Congressman MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO, but this afternoon it will be his alma mater that takes him to school. Stony Brook University, where Algieri graduated with Honors, in 2007, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management (Algieri also has a Masters degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York Institute of Technology), will host Chris as the Alumni Fan of the Game at Saturday’s annual Wolfstock Homecoming celebration among 11,000 fans and present to him a proclamation from Suffolk County Supervisor Steven Ballone declaring September 27th “Chris Algieri Day.”
“This is an incredible honor. Stony Brook has played such an important part in my life personally and professionally, “said Algieri. “I am confident my Seawolves can do to William & Mary on Saturday what I did to Ruslan Provodnikov last June — PULL OFF A BIG WIN.”
Algieri is scheduled to arrive on campus (100 Nicolls Rd., Stony Brook, NY 11790) at 3:30 p.m. Here is a summary of his activities:
· Welcomed at LaValle Stadium by Stony Brook President Dr. Samuel L Stanley
· Interview on Stony Brook University’s School of Journalism “Wolfstock Live” student broadcast
· Pregame on-field presentations and ceremonies before the
Seawolves vs. William & Mary football game
· Watching the game from the President’s Suite with Dr. Stanley and Dexter Bailey, Senior Vice President for University Advancement
· End of First Quarter on-field recognition as the Alumnus of the Game
· Second Quarter participation in Alumni/Student Contest
· Special Halftime Presentation from Algieri to President Stanley
Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs), from Huntington, NY on Long Island, has become boxing’s No. 1 story, as well as being hailed as the 21st century real-life Rocky. Over the last 22 months Algieri, a former kickboxing champion, has elevated himself from a prospect to a world-class contender to a world champion. After accumulating significant victories over top prospect Jose Alejo, former USBA champion Mike Arnaoutis, and highly-rated contender Emmanuel Taylor, Algieri, stepped up in his HBO debut and challenged WBO junior welterweight champion “The Siberian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov on June 14 Despite suffering two knockdowns in the first round which closed his swollen right eye, Algieri who entered the fight as a 5-1 underdog, eschewed the natural instinct to panic and resolutely stuck to his game plan, expertly using his jab and supreme athletic ability to pick apart the defending champion to claim a split decision victory and the world title. The live, first-time airing of the fight averaged over 1.1 million viewers placing among the five most-viewed fights on cable this year. In what could be a first for any professional boxer, Algieri used his purse from the Provodnikov bout to pay off his student loans. He aspires to attend medical school after he concludes his boxing career.
