By Keith Idec

NEW YORK – The last thing on Chris Algieri’s mind as the biggest fight of his career approaches is a rematch against the man he beat to earn it.

Aligieri’s split-decision victory over Russia’s Ruslan Provodnikov was considered controversial. Algieri’s focus still remains squarely on preparing to upset Manny Pacquiao in their HBO Pay-Per-view main event Nov. 22 in Macau, China, and pursuing more megafights thereafter.

“People who don’t think I won that fight, they don’t know boxing,” Algieri said of his career-changing win against Provodnikov. “I’m not really too concerned about [a rematch]. If it happens, if it comes up, and he gets some big, major fights and gets onto this level, then sure, we can fight.

“I have no problem with that fight. I didn’t fear him before the fight; I’m not going to fear him now. So if that fight ever materializes, sure. But we have to see what the landscape of the sport is. I don’t think I have to prove anything [against Provodnikov]. I think [my win] was quite enough.”

The 30-year-old Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) was a decided underdog entering his 12-round fight for Provodnikov’s WBO junior welterweight title June 14 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The late-blooming former kickboxing champion overcame two first-round knockdowns and severe swelling surrounding his right eye to top Provodnikov (23-3, 16 KOs) on two of the three scorecards (114-112, 114-112, 109-117) and take his 140-pound crown.

Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.