ESPN’s Dan Rafael described Algieri’s whipping as a “shellacking of the highest order” as the Filipino fighter sent the American tumbling to the canvass for a total of six times.
But Rafael considered Pacquiao’s failure to get a knockout win as forgivable considering the beating he dealt on Algieri.
“The 35-year-old southpaw, who is still speedy and offensive-minded, did as he pleased other than get a knockout,” the boxing pundit said in ESPN.com.
Rafael said Algieri’s much-hyped left jab looked meaningless in front of Pacquiao who unloaded a variety of attacks, including the left straight that nearly flattened out the New York fighter in the ninth round.
“It was a shellacking of the highest order as Pacquiao won his third fight in a row (second overall in Macau) since the stunning knockout loss to rival Juan Manuel Marquez in their fourth fight in December 2012,” he said.
RingTV’s Doug Fischer, for his part, admitted that he was impressed to see Pacquiao outclass younger and very athletic fighters like Algieri and Tim Bradley.
He said both fighters were undefeated and were already battle-tested before they lost to Pacquiao.
“Bradley and Algieri were athletic, undefeated beltholders (with a combined record of 51-0) who were battle-tested and in their primes when Pacquiao faced them. And at 35, after more than 60 pro bouts and almost 20 years in the game, he handled them. For the record: I’m impressed,” said Fischer.
He said he also stopped scoring the bout after seeing the American tumbling to the canvass numerous times.
“Chris maybe won one round (the fifth), maybe. I stopped scoring fight after the two knockdowns in Round 6. What was the point?” said Fischer.
He added that Pacquiao’s ring generalship showed that he is already at par with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Andre Ward and Vladimir Klitschko.
“The only difference is that Pacquiao doesn’t control a fight by holding on the inside; he does it with his footwork and angles,” he said.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
