Fight analysts believe that this will be Manny Pacquiao’s strategy when he clashes with a taller Chris Algieri on Sunday.
There is so much talk about Algieri and Pacquiao's height difference, but boxing commentator Ronnie Nathanielsz doesn’t think the American’s reach is an advantage.
“I saw his fight with Emmanuel Taylor and Jose Peralta,” Nathanielsz said on DZMM’s “Fast Break” of the 5’10” Algieri. “The moment Peralta pushed him on the ropes and worked on the body, nahihirapan na siya.”
“Pacquiao will do the same thing. To me, he will get under the jab and work the body. Tapos na ang boxing.”
Height may be an advantage in some sports, but it’s different in boxing, according to the veteran fight analyst.
“Iyung sinasabi nilang height advantage, ang sabi ko sa kanila, 'This is not basketball, this is boxing.'''
For his part, sports analyst Ed Tolentino said experience will play a major factor in the WBO welterweight fight.
Algieri was not beaten in all his 20 fights, most of which took place in his home town in New York.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, had been into 63 fights, winning in 56 of them and losing in 5.
“If you look at the record of Pacquiao in his last few fights, it is either against reigning or former world champions. The last time he fought a contender was against Jorge Solis in 2007,” said Tolentino.
“This is the first time after 14 fights na he's taking on a medyo lesser opponent, pero champion. Pero kung ikumpara naman natin kay [Juan Manuel] Marquez, [Miguel] Cotto, Shane Mosley, mukhang malayo [si Algieri] eh.''
Algieri's biggest payday
If there’s one thing that makes Algieri intriguing to fight fans, it’s his life story.
“’Yung kanyang determination is deeply rooted sa background niya,” said Tolentino.
“This is a guy who live with his mother and father and trains at the basement of the family home, who rides a 2005 Honda accord ng 190,000+ miles na ang natakbo. This guy, to earn extra money, nagta-trabaho bilang conditioning coach ng ilang mga executive. Ganun ang kanyang pinanggalingan.”
Algieri will be getting the biggest payday of his career with a guaranteed $1 million against Pacquiao. His highest pay before that was $100,000 against Ruslan Provodnikov.
“Before that it was only $15,000,” Tolentino said. “Sabi nga nila he’s the real-life Rocky.”
Algieri got the chance to fight Pacquiao when he survived two first-round knockdowns to complete a split decision win against a heavy handed Provodnikov last June.
That victory gave the New Yorker the WBO junior welterweight crown.
In an interview, Pacquiao said Algieri's resilience is what helped him win the Provodnikov fight.
"I watched his fight with Ruslan, he's tough there. He deserved this fight," said the eight-division champion who was interviewed together with Algieri on ESPN.
Algieri said he is happy to be given the chance to square off with one of the world biggest boxing superstars, describing it as a once in a lifetime experience.
"This is the opportunity of a lifetime, every young fighter dream of being a world champion. I did that the last time when I beat Ruslan Provodnikov, now I get to fight the best of the world," he said.
The fight will take place at an expected jam-packed Cotai Arena in The Venetian Macau.
China's Zou Shiming and Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym, Vasyl Lomachenko and Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo, and Jessie Vargas and Antonio DeMarco will face each other in the undercard fights.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
