Algieri hopes Pacquiao fight is start of his legacy

American boxer Chris Algieri believes the time has come for his to step into the spotlight and become a star in the sport. But it all hinges on his performance against Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao on November 23.

"I'm a student of the sport, I'm a fan of the sport," said Algieri, who will challenge the "Pacman" for the WBO welterweight belt at the Cotai Arena in Macau. "I've been watching for years, and I've seen how other fighters careers have come from nothing and exploded."

"That's just kind of the nature of the game. You come out of nowhere, and boom. Look at Manny Pacquiao – he came out of nowhere, came to America, and had a breakout fight, and now, he's one of the best fighters that ever lived."

"He is literally a living legend. That's just how the sport works. So I'm hoping that this is the beginning of my legacy."

Algieri earned a shot at Pacquiao after beating Russia's Ruslan Provodnikov in a light-welterweight title fight last June, and he has been the underdog ever since the fight was announced.

Yet the tag has never fazed Algieri, who has been the picture of confidence all throughout the lead-up to the match, and has never wavered in his belief that he can beat the "Pacman."

"This is the way I feel," Algieri said when asked if he was simply trying to psych himself up, or if he was sincerely confident. "I know when I look in the mirror and I look myself in the eyes, that I've done all the hard work."

"I don't cut corners. I know that. So I have that belief in myself that I am ready," he stressed.

Algieri said he has prepared very well for the fight, and has spent training camp perfecting a strategy.

"We gotta go out there and do what we've been doing," said Algieri, who also acknowledged that Pacquiao has been "preparing very well" for the showdown as well.

"He's incredibly experienced, he's one of the best fighters that ever lived," said the American. "It's a tall task for myself, and my team, but we feel like we're ready."

"We've done everything necessary, (taken) all the proper steps leading up to this. I have the talent and the skills, and we just gotta go up there and perform," he said.

Algieri guaranteed that he was in his best condition of his career and is 100% ready for fight night.

"I'm still learning," he said. "But we're getting closer to matching my potential, and I think we'll do some great things on Saturday night." -- From a report by Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Roach, Buboy see easy fight for Pacquiao vs Algieri

MANILA, Philippines – Hall-of-Fame trainer Freddie Roach is anticipating a sensational performance from Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao when he faces off against American boxer Chris Algieri on November 23 at the Cotai Arena in Macau.

Pacquiao has been tabbed as the favorite to retain his WBO welterweight belt against Algieri, but the American has been the picture of confidence during the lead-up to the bout.

Algieri's height and reach are his greatest physical advantages over Pacquiao, but Roach is expecting his fighter to neutralize these fairly easily and quickly.

"When you have a reach advantage? How hard is that to take away?" said the trainer, as quoted by Boxing Scene. "If you have a boxer like Manny, that's not so difficult."

"Just because he's taller doesn't make him better. We're faster, better. We're going to take him to school," he guaranteed.

Assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, who was in charge of the early weeks of Pacquiao's training camp, is similarly confident that his longtime friend will have no trouble against Algieri.

"Asahan niyo na uuwi tayo ng maaga," said Fernandez ahead of Team Pacquiao's flight to Macau.

"Wala naman kasi 'yung height. Hindi problema 'yung height," added Fernandez, echoing Roach's sentiments. "Kung ikaw mismo na fighter, kulang ka sa training mo, doon ka matakot. Pero kung pataasan lang ng height, hindi tayo dapat matakot."

"Walang problema 'yan kahit matangkad 'yung kalaba. Sa aking, lang tatamaan at tatamaan," he added.

Pacquiao's strength and conditioning trainer, Justine Fortune, said the "Pacman" was in fantastic shape already and the only concern now was maintaining that and not over-training.

"He's in a hundred percent shape. He's ready for the fight," said Fortune. "He's in great shape for the fight, because we'll have to chase (Algieri) all night."

Pacquiao's team is anticipating that Algieri will run from Pacquiao once he feels the Filipino boxer's power, and both Roach and Fortune have warned that if Algieri chooses to stand and trade instead, then he will kiss the canvas.

"Pacquiao will outscore him if he does run," said Roach. "But if he has any guts at all, and he wants to fight a little bit and go for the world title, I think we'll knock him out."

"If Algieri engages, he's knocked out, simple as that," said Fortune.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

First 4 rounds crucial for Pacquiao, analyst says

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao's fate will depend on how he behaves in the first 4 rounds of his comeback fight against a raw but young Brandon Rios, according to local boxing analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino.

Tolentino believes that Pacquiao's knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez might affect the Filipino boxer and he could unravel in the opening rounds of the Rios fight.

"[Baka] may problem pa sa kanyang kumpyansa si Manny Pacquiao, kasi hesistant pa iyan especially after coming off a knockout loss so he will be groping for form. Maaring maging hesistant siyang bumitaw," he said in an interview on dzMM.

He added that the 27-year-old Rios is expected to have better stamina compared to the 34-year-old Pacquiao.

This could make a big difference for the bigger Mexican-American.

"Remember, malaking mama itong si Rios. He can accommodate the extra weight. He can bully Pacquiao and throw punches to remind him na 'heto, tatamaan ka na naman,'" said Tolentino.

But things will turn to Pacquiao's favor as the fight goes on. All the fighting congressman has to do is establish his confidence in the first 4 rounds, said Tolentino.

"Once Pacquiao survives the first 3 to 4 rounds, palagay ko may paglalagyan na itong si Bam Bam Rios.”

Tolentino said Rios is tailor-fit for someone like Pacquiao.

“Ayaw niya ng counter-puncher like Marquez. Ayaw niyang siya pa ang mag-iinitiate... gusto niya, iyung pumapasok like Ricky Hatton kasi he can sidestep like a matador handling a bull,” he said.

Meanwhile, boxing commentator Ronnie Nathanielsz believes Rios is out of Pacquiao’s league.

Nathanielsz said the Filipino superstar has already fought quality opponents, something that the Mexican-American lacks in his 33-fight resume.

“If you look at it honestly, Rios is not in the same caliber as Manny Pacquiao,” Nathanielsz said in an interview on ANC Top Story.

“If you look at the people Rios fought, Rios won the lightweight title from [Miguel] Acosta, he fought Richard Abril of Cuba… the decision was overturned because it was a bum decision. He lost to Mike Alvarado, he has not fought any quality fighter.”

In comparison, Pacquiao fought Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto.

“[These are] top-class fighters,” said Nathanielsz.

However, the analyst said Pacquiao will need to beat Rios and beat him decisively to extend his storied career.

“If he loses badly that could signal the end of his career. If he wins or loses a controversial decision that could mean so much.”

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao may earn up to $30M in Rios fight

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxing superstar Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is guaranteed to earn $18 million for his non-title welterweight showdown against Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios, his promoter confirmed on Wednesday.

Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum told Yahoo! Sports reporter Kevin Iole that Pacquiao was guaranteed $18 million, but that number can rise significantly once the pay-per-view revenue is factored in.

Pacquiao can end up earning as much as $30 million for the fight, which will be his first in nearly a year.

Meanwhile, Rios is guaranteed $4 million.

Pacquiao is seeking to bounce back from back-to-back losses in 2012, having lost to Timothy Bradley controversially in June before getting knocked out by rival Juan Manuel Marquez in December.

Rios is also coming off a loss – the first of his career – when he was outpointed by Mike Alvarado in their rematch last March.

The Pacquiao-Rios showdown, billed the "Clash in Cotai," will be held in Macau on November 24 (Manila time).

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com