MANILA, Philippines – Chris Algieri can take on Manny Pacquiao any minute now, despite their fight still being six weeks away.
This after one of Algieri’s trainers declared that the undefeated American is already in tip-top shape for his Nov. 23 showdown with Pacquiao in Macau.
In a report by New York-based scribe Rich Mazon of Philboxing.com, trainer Keith Trimble said Algieri had a blast in the first phase of his training at the Bellmore Kickboxing Academy in Long island, New York.
“It’s great. He is right on point. He is in shape like usual. He is fast, strong. He is good to go,” Trimble told Mazon.
The cornerman added that Algieri has likewise done well in sparring and should have no problems regarding a possible burnout.
“He sparred three times. It is good. It is like we just left off from his last fight. After the first sparring session, his timing is there. He’s already getting there. He did six rounds each time with no problem. Like I said again, his conditioning is never an issue,” Trimble explained.
Pacquiao, for his part, is in the thick of training in General Santos City, sparring with lightweight Stan Martyniouk and former welterweight contender Mike Jones. But the fighting congressman is expected to take a brief break to grace the opening of the PBA’s 40th season on Sunday.
Freddie Roach has reportedly given Pacquiao the green light to play for the Kia Sorentos on opening day, after which they’ll resume training.
Algieri, meanwhile, will continue preparing in Las Vegas before flying to China roughly two weeks before the fight.
“I’ll be out there a little under two weeks prior to the bout to get myself acclimated,” Algieri said in a report by cbssports.com.
“We’ll get right to work as soon as we get out there,” he added. – Dino Maragay