Pacquiao ready to fight Mayweather in 2015

Filipino ring icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao sent a strong message to unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr. with a superb performance against challenger Chris Algieri in their welterweight fight Sunday in Macau.

The unbeaten Algieri was game but eventually out-classed, as Pacquiao knocked him down six times and won an overwhelming unanimous decision.

"Tonight I did my best," said Pacquiao, who won with scores of 119-103, 119-103, and 120-102 to hike his record to 57 wins with five losses and two draws.

Pacquiao, of course, could not escape the Mayweather question, and he responded in humorous fashion as the "Pacman" imitated his now-famous Foot Locker commercial.

"He's going to fight me? Yes! Yes!" Pacquiao exclaimed, to the delight of his entourage inside the ring.

Turning serious, Pacquiao made it clear that he is very willing to fight the American superstar who earlier this year routed Marcos Maidana keep his professional record spotless at 47-0.

"I think I'm ready to fight next year for him," said Pacquiao. "I want that fight. The fans deserve that fight."

Pacquiao has never wavered from his stance that he is willing to fight Mayweather at any time. While the "Pacman" believes his legacy in the sport won't be tarnished should he never fight the boxer known as "Money," he also acknowledges that fight fans genuinely want to see him and Mayweather in a classic encounter.

But despite repeated negotiations, a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight has never come close to fruition.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Round-by-Round: Pacquiao vs Algieri

Manny Pacquiao shut out Chris Algieri via unanimous decision to retain the WBO welterweight belt at the jampacked Cotai Arena in the luxurious Venetian Macau.

Judges scored the fight 119-103, 119-103, and 120-102, all in favor of the eight-division champion.

The Filipino boxer racked his 57th career win and is now looking forward for a possible clash against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015.

Check out how the fight panned out:

Round 1

Algieri tried to establish his jab. Pacquiao briefly cornered Algieri, but Algieri moved out of trouble. Algieri tried to stay out of range. Pacquiao gave chase. That was a feeling out round for both Pacquiao
and Algieri.

Round 2

Pacquiao landed a combination but Algieri again dodged out of trouble. Algieri now jabbing at Pacquiao. Algieri went down! Algieri beat the count, and fight continued. Pacquiao went to the body of Algieri then connected to the head. Pacquiao again went to the body, Algieri just tried to avoid the Pacman's punches. A 10-8 round for Pacquiao because of the knockdown.

Round 3

Pacquiao moved forward, landed a couple of shots. Algieri tried to be more active now. Algieri connected with a lead right, Pacquiao shook it off. Pacquiao connected to the body again, and connected on a combo.

Round 4
Algieri again jabbed, but Pacquiao blocked his blows with his gloves. Pacman again going to the body of Algieri. Pacquiao put his punches
together very well, connected several times on Algieri. He landed a huge uppercut. Pacquiao with three punches using his left hand. Algieri tried to stay away but Pacquiao continued to connect.

Round 5

Algieri jabbed with his left, trying to set up the right hand. Pacquiao missed with a hook. Algieri warned to keep them up. Algeri missed with a right and Pacquiao was keeping the pressure on him. Good exchange by both fighters. Algieri's movement was making Pacquiao miss but Algieri wasn't landing much either. Pacquiao was more active.

Round 6

Algieri again tried to establish his jab to set-up his right. Pacquiao gave chase and lands a couple. Algieri again warned for low blows. That's his second warning. Algieri went down again! Pacquiao clearly hurt Algieri there. Algieri again down for the second time in the round! Algieri argued it was a slip but referee gave him a count. Algieri just trying to move out of danger now. Two knockdowns for Pacquiao in the sixth round.

Round 7

Algieri looked to be more active, tried to go to the body of Pacquiao. Pacquiao backed Algieri on the ropes, landed a left hand. He landed
another left straight in the middle of the ring. Pacquiao with a combination to the head. Algieri missed, then Pacquiao lands another combination. Algieri looked like he's wobbling, but he landed to the body of Pacquiao.

Round 8

Pacquiao with a combination, Algieri missed a hook. Algieri pumped the left jab. Algieri with a short right hand, Pacquiao countered with a combination. Pacquiao just shrugged off Algieri's punches. Algieri more active in this round but Pacquiao still out-landed him.

Round 9
Pacquiao targetted the head, got a left hand through and connected. Algieri tried a hook but Pacquiao blocked it with his glove. Algieri down again! Algieri held on, the referee called another knockdown. Pacquiao went for the kill. Algieri fought back and survived the round.

Round 10

Pacquiao simply looked more explosive than Algieri. The American looked wobbly early in the 10th. Pacquiao wth another straight and Algieri wobbled again. Algieri clearly felt Pacquiao's punches. He wasn't throwing anything, and Pacquiao gave chase. Algieri went down again! Algieri has been down six times in this fight.

Round 11

Algieri again became active, but Pacquiao kept moving forward. Pacquiao landed to the head of Algieri again. Algieri with a right that glanced off Pacquiao's glove. Algieri clinched. Pacquiao made Algieri miss and then caught him with a right.

Round 12
Algieri's trainer tried to encourage him. Algieri with a body shot. Pacquiao with a left hand. Pacquiao with another left to the head. Pacquiao was not slowing down, still looked for the knockout. Algieri however was moving well. Fight ended. Pacquiao knocked down Algieri six times but the American survived.

Judges scored the fight 119-103, 119-103, and 120-102 for Pacquiao, who retained his WBO welterweight title.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Algieri claims only one knockdown was legitimate

American boxer Chris Algieri tasted the canvas six times as he found himself thoroughly out-classed by Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao in their welterweight title fight at the Cotai Arena in Macau on Sunday.

In what was the biggest fight of his career, Algieri came up woefully short, as he was never able to even trouble Pacquiao. The "Pacman" won a wide decision, with scores of 119-103, 119-103, and 120-102.

Yet Algieri cut a defiant picture at the end of the fight, claiming only one of Pacquiao's six knockdowns was legitimate.

"The only one that was a legitimate knockdown was when we traded left hooks (in the ninth round) and I went down," Algieri said in a post-fight interview. "That was the only shot that really hurt me."

"I thought it was my best round of the fight at that point, and I sat down on a left hook," he added.

But Pacquiao, whose hand-speed and punching power were evident all throughout, was much faster and unleashed a left cross of his own that sent Algieri tumbling to the canvas.

"That was the only shot that hurt me," Algieri claimed. "I had my legs pretty good when I got up."

Algieri, however, was knocked down again shortly after as Pacquiao tried to go for the kill and landed a flurry of punches. The American, however, managed to remain standing until the final bell, and denied Pacquiao what would have been his first knockout win since 2009.

Pacquiao said he tried to go for the knockout although he also tried to be more careful and avoid making a misstep -- the way he did against Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez in December 2012 when he was memorably knocked out with a second to go in the sixth round.

Algieri, however, believes that it was his own punching power that caused Pacquiao to hold back.

"I've hurt every fight I've fought," he said. "I think I caught him with a few shots that made him think. In the last round, I know his corner was imploring him to turn it on and he was throwing bombs… (But) I think I caught him with a few counter shots on the way in."

Algieri did give Pacquiao credit, saying the Filipino was "the best in the world at fighting like Manny Pacquiao."

"His start and stop is great, and he has perfected fighting like Manny Pacquiao," said the American.

"It's not so much the punching power. It's how he mixes the punches. Like I said, he's the best in the world at fighting like Manny Pacquiao, and it's a very, very unique style," said Algieri, who also called the Filipino champ a "hell of a fighter."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao sees tough fight vs Algieri: Arum

MANILA, Philippines – Contrary to what most analysts believe, Manny Pacquiao won't be able to beat Chris Algieri that easy, according to boxing promoter Bob Arum.

The Top Rank Inc. executive said even Pacquiao himself knows it will be a challenge to face the taller, younger and hungry American boxer.

“Anybody who thinks that Manny Pacquiao is gonna have a cakewalk with Algieri has another thing coming,” Arum said in an interview on DZMM’s “Teka Muna.”

“Because the guy who has taken Algieri the most seriously is Manny Pacquiao.”

Arum said aside from Algieri’s physical advantages against the smaller Pacquiao, the American fighter has a fighting style that poses problems to the eight-division champion.

The 5'10'' tall Algieri possesses a longer reach and this complements his counter-punching strategy. This has worked well for the New York-based fighter, allowing him to win 20 fights in a row.

“Algieri is a terrific fighter, he's great conditioned, he has a marvelous jab. He's extraordinary intelligent in the ring,” said Arum.

“Manny realized that Algieri presents major problems and he schooled himself to meet those problems.”

This is why Pacquiao immersed himself into perhaps the best training camp he had in years, he said.

“He's worked hard. He's focused. He's put in more time. Sparring partners are better in this camp than have been in many few years,” said Arum.

The Provodnikov upset

The Long Island native won the Pacquiao sweepstakes when he unexpectedly gutted out a split decision upset against fancied Russian brawler Ruslan Provodnikov last June.

Arum said Algieri ruined their plans of staging a showdown between Provodnikov and Pacquiao because of his win.

“He upset Provodnikov and made it shift our plans to fight Algieri. That was an unbelievable, gutty ‘Rocky-like’ performance. He's knocked down in the first round, his eyes were closed, he came back and outboxed Provodnikov and won the fight. This is a real tough kid,” said Arum.

The Pacquiao-Algieri WBO welterweight title fight will take place at the Cotai Arena in the luxurious Venetian Macau.

Arum said tickets have already been sold out since a lot of Filipinos and several high rollers from the US flew in to watch the fight live.

The card is also expected to draw 300 million viewers in China, he said.

“The fight will be broadcast on Sunday morning on Chinese national television networks, 9 regional networks and 2 internet portals. So they're looking at an audience as large as 300 million viewers. Tremendous buzz in China not only for Manny but also for their superstar Zou Shiming,” he said.

Interestingly, Shiming will be figuring in a flyweight title eliminator against Thailand’s Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym, who looked like a “carbon copy” of Pacquiao.

The bout is also well-covered by the US press, which has shown interest in Algieri’s story.

“We have a marvelous tour out from the US, Chris is a New York boy from Long Island and every single New York paper is here in Macau so the coverage from all over the US, the LA Times, Reuters, I mean it's almost like the Filipinos’ coverage for Manny Pacquiao,” said Arum.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Analysts weigh in on Pacquiao-Algieri bout

MANILA, Philippines – Kill the body and the head will fall.

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

'Pacman' Pacquiao expected to gobble up Algieri

MANILA - A rejuvenated Manny Pacquiao will look to make short work of Chris Algieri Sunday to defend his World Boxing Organisation welterweight belt and raise his chances of a showdown with Floyd Mayweather.

Few believe the eight-weight world champion, oozing confidence and surrounded by a 300-plus entourage in Macau, will be seriously troubled by Algieri.

"Algieri will be overwhelmed by Manny's speed straight away," predicted Pacquiao's Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach on Friday. "Manny deep down really wants to win by a knockout."

His 30-year-old American opponent (20-0) is a capable and likeable former kickboxer from Long Island with a master's degree and an ambition to be a doctor.

In June, he got up from the canvas twice in the first round to shock Russia's formidable light welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov and take the WBO belt on a split decision.

Now he says he wants to pull off an almighty upset and end the fabled career of the 36-year-old Filipino icon and congressman from Sarangani province.

"Manny's going to be put to sleep, go home and then retire," Algieri's trainer Tim Lane told reporters Friday.

The last man to make such a bold prediction was another American, Brandon Rios, at the same venue a year ago. Rios was then destroyed by a masterclass in boxing, speed, agility and power from "Pacman".

Pacquiao, who once described Algieri as just an "okay" fighter, remains dismissive of his challenge.

"I know my opponent is excited to win, but I won't let that happen," he said at the Venetian Macau venue.

"He's got a good jab, a good left hand," said Roach of Algieri. "But once we take that away he'll be lost. Manny's been exploding on me with the counter-punch. He's punching really hard."

Pacquiao, whose record stands 56-5-2 with 38 KOs, had a mixed build-up in which he made his professional basketball debut in the Philippines league last month.

But he says his intense training camp has helped him regain the aggression and power that put away world-class adversaries such as Oscar de La Hoya, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Ricky Hatton and Shane Mosley in his younger days.

'Money' Mayweather

"Manny wanted to go back to the old workouts with more heavy bags, more strength, less mitts," said Roach. "He's punching a lot harder I feel and his punch rate has gone up."

Only by stopping Algieri will Pacquiao prove the fearsome "fighter of the decade" in the 2000s is back, two weeks before his 36th birthday.

If he does then a potential $1 billion megafight with Floyd "Money" Mayweather may become closer to reality next year.

Pacquiao and Algieri will fight for the WBO welterweight (147lb) title at a catchweight limit of 144lb.

A host of celebrities will be ringside as promoter Bob Arum aims to show Saturday night pay-per-view audiences in the United States that Chinese territory Macau is growing to rival Las Vegas as a fight venue.

Hollywood superstars Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger have already confirmed they will be there. On the undercard they will see another screen star.

Chinese double Olympic gold medalist flyweight Zou Shiming (5-0, 1 KO) had a cameo role in the recent "Transformers 4" blockbuster movie and he will take on Thailand's Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym (27-0, 12 KOs) in a final eliminator for a world title shot.

Kwanpichit is an uncanny Pacquiao look-alike -- dubbed 'mini-Manny' by the media -- and Zou will be hoping that the similarity applies only to the Thai's looks and not his punching power.

Two other world title fights complete the pay-per-view card.

WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko (2-1, 1 KO) and WBA super lightweight champion Jessie Vargas (25-0, 9 KOs) will defend their titles against Thailand's Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo (52-1, 33 KOs) and Mexico's Antonio DeMarco (31-3-1, 23 KOs) respectively.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao, the street kid who conquered the world

MANILA - In 1992, a 14-year-old boy dropped out of school in General Santos City in the southern Philippines because of extreme poverty.

With his single mother was unable to support him and his five siblings, he made his way to Manila and ended up living on the streets.

When someone suggested to the young Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao that he divert his energies to a local boxing gym, it turned out to be a shrewd piece of advice.

"I kept winning and almost became a boxer without knowing," said the man who would go on to make history as the only winner of world titles in eight weight divisions.

He soon caught the attention of national amateur selectors and made the Philippines team.

With lodging and subsistence provided, it proved the beginning of one of the most glittering careers the fight game has ever known.

"Manny" (as he became known) Pacquiao's natural talent and speed, coupled with a fearsome work ethic, saw him work his way up to being lauded as "the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world".

Pacquiao (56-5-2) will command a payday in excess of $20 million dollars when he fights Chris Algieri at the Venetian Macau, one of the world's largest and grandest casino resorts, on Sunday morning -- a far cry from his desperate beginnings.

It is perhaps memories of his younger impoverished days that prompt Pacquiao never to refuse requests from family and friends.

His philanthropy and generosity are well known, and resulted in the Filipino icon paying for two Airbus A320s emblazoned with his face to fly his 300-plus entourage the two hours from General Santos to Macau for the fight.

His fame and fortune in the ring also enabled him to study and finally pass his high school exams in 2007 at the age of 28.

A college degree followed in 2009 and a further qualification in legislation and governance paved the way for him to be elected with 66 percent of the vote in May 2013 as a congressman in his wife Jinkee's home province of Sarangani. He was re-elected unopposed in 2013.

Back in his pomp

Now just two weeks away from his 36th birthday he shows no little sign of slowing down his hectic life.

Boxing and politics aside, he is also a singer, actor, church minister, army reservist and player-coach for Kia Motors in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), playing seven minutes of their season opener last month to the dismay of his long-time Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao won his first world title at flyweight in 1998 and added a super bantamweight title a year later, but it wasn't until he teamed up with Roach in 2001 that his career really took off as they forged one of the most successful partnerships in boxing history.

Pacquiao went on to win multiple world titles, sweeping aside the world's best.

Marc Antonio Barrera, Oscar de la Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto were all demolished by the Filipino.

Two defeats in 2012 -- a devastating knockout against Marquez and a controversial points decision against Timothy Bradley -- led some to think Pacquiao's star was fading.

But a year ago in Macau he regained his pomp with a comprehensive win against Brandon Rios, and then took Bradley apart in their rematch.

There remains just one thing missing on his considerable CV -- a megafight with the unbeaten American great Floyd Mayweather.

The signs are that if Pacquiao beats Algieri as expected Sunday, the pair will finally touch gloves next year in the richest event in the history of sport -- it will generate an estimated $1 billion.

Whoever suggested that a scrawny Manila street kid should go to the gym could never have imagined where it would lead.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Will Pacquiao go for KO vs. Algieri?

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing analyst Al Mendoza believes Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao will try to knock out American challenger Chris Algieri after he won his last two fights in solid, but not spectacular, fashion.

Talking to radio DZMM Thursday, Mendoza said Pacquiao will likely be fired up to go for a stoppage win this time as he has not won by knockout since 2009.

"Sinasabi natin na ang pamagat ng laban ay 'Hungry for Glory.' Gutom na gutom ng glorya at karangalan si Algieri, dahil pag nga naman na-disgrasya niya si Manny Pacquiao, superstar siya bigla," said Mendoza.

"Pero ang sa akin, mas malalim ang gloryang gustong makamit ni Pacquiao dito," he added.

Mendoza noted that in his past four fights, Pacquiao has a 2-2 win-loss record, having lost to Timothy Bradley and to Juan Manuel Marquez.

He bounced back with a unanimous decision win over Brandon Rios, then avenged his loss to Bradley. But Mendoza noted that Pacquiao did not display his fearsome form in both of those matches.

"'Yung mga panalo na 'yun, sa puntos lang eh," he pointed out. "Hindi Pacquiao 'yun. Hindi Pacquiao na kilalang-kilala natin na mabagsik, na pinapatulog ang kalaban. Sa huling limang taon ay wala siyang knockout."

Pacquiao's last knockout came against Puerto Rican star Miguel Cotto, whom he stopped in the 12th round.

Since then, however, he has won his fights via the judges' scorecards, the latest of which was a wide unanimous decision victory over Bradley in April.

Because of this, Mendoza believes Pacquiao will try his hardest to knockout Algieri, who has not been beaten in his professional career.

"Gutom na gutom na din siya sa glorya, dahil dito sa panglimang laban niya, kinakailangan manalo siya, at hindi lang panalo by puntos, kundi dapat by knockout," said the analyst.

Moreover, Mendoza believes a spectacular victory for Pacquiao will help him secure a fight against American superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr.

"Sa tingin ko, ang laban na ito kay Algieri ay gagamitin niya na tune-up para kay Mayweather sa isang taon," Mendoza said. "Kung tune-up fight ay kailangan matindi ang resulta, at ang matinding resulta ay panalo by knockout ni Manny Pacquiao."

But Mendoza also warned that Pacquiao should be careful, considering how he was brutally knocked out by Marquez when they fought in 2012 while the "Pacman" was also going for the kill.

"Sana lang, huwag siyang manggigil at magmadali muli, kagaya ng nangyari kay Marquez," said Mendoza. "(Sana) mapatulog niya ng magandang pagpapatulog si Algieri."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pacquiao is Algieri's ticket to P4P list, bigger paydays

MANILA, Philippines – Unbeaten but relatively untested boxing champion Chris Algieri is determined to make the best of his fight against Manny Pacquiao as it could open doors to more opportunities, including bigger paydays.

A victory against Pacquiao could catapult Algieri to the top of the pound-for-pound standings and could establish him as among the boxing’s most elite fighters.

“This is the top of the sport. The winner here goes on to make the biggest fights that are possible not only to the welterweight division but in all of boxing. A win will propel me to the top of the pound-for-pound ratings and viewed as one of the best fighters in all of boxing,” Algieri told The Sweet Science.




The American is due to meet Pacquiao in the ring for the WBO welterweight crown. The fight is set to take place at the Cotai Arena in Macau on November 23 (November 22, US time).

Officially, Pacquiao is ranked No. 4 among Ring Magazine's top pound-for-pound fighters; Algieri is nowhere in the list.

Relatively unknown to casual fight fans, Algieri won the ticket to the title shot after pulling off an upset against heavy-hitting Russian boxer Ruslan Provodnikov.

Algieri said he has toiled long enough in the shadows and that his fights against Provodnikov and Pacquiao are his biggest breaks.

“At this point I want the biggest fights out there. I have spent a long time fighting off TV and outside of the public eye. Now I want exposure and I want to fight the biggest names out there in boxing,” he said.

Just like what he did against Provodnikov, Algieri said he wants to pull off another surprise this time against an eight-division champion. “I want to show that I belong here,” he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Arum sees no mismatch in Pac-Algieri tiff

MANILA, Philippines - Over the past few weeks, Bob Arum had known Chris Algieri well for him to say that people who are predicting a mismatch in Macau on Nov. 23 are wrong.

Arum said they’re terribly wrong.

“These people don’t know what they’re talking about,” Arum told The STAR as the anticipated fight between Algieri and Manny Pacquiao moved closer and closer.

The fight is scheduled in three weeks at the Cotai Arena of The Venetian Hotel in Macau. Oddsmakers have placed Algieri as the heavy underdog.

They pick Pacquiao, 2-2 in his last four fights and 56-5-2 overall, as the clear favorite at -1400, meaning you need to put $1400 on him just to win $100.

In contrast, Algieri, undefeated in 20 fights, is at +800, meaning $100 on him wins $800. The odds are a tad closer in some betting stations at -1300 and +700.

Algieri is also younger and bigger.

Arum had seen how hard Algieri is training for this fight, which comes just five months after he stunned the Russian beast, Ruslan Provodnikov.

Algieri is so used to being the underdog.

“Algieri is a very dangerous opponent as he shows fight after fight after fight and when he goes in as an underdog and pulls off a victory,” Arum told The STAR.

“You have to remember that he hasn’t lost a fight yet. He’s determined to win this fight. And he has the style that could give Manny trouble,” he added.

In fact, Arum made sure that there was a rematch clause in the fight contract but would only be in effect if Algieri wins.

“I put a rematch clause that if Algieri wins I could force a rematch. That’s if Manny is willing to do it,” he added.

“You never know boxing,” Arum said.

Read more on The Philippine Star.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com