MACAU – WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao acknowledged unbeaten challenger Chris Algieri’s advantage in height and length but said his edge in experience, speed and power will be more than enough to score a convincing victory in their scheduled 12-round title bout at the Cotai Arena in the Venetian Resort here this morning.
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Algieri, 30, is four inches taller than Pacquiao and his wingspan is five inches longer. He is expected to use his length in trying to box out of Pacquiao’s strike zone. A long left jab will be a key weapon in keeping a safe distance from the defending titleholder. Pacquiao, 35, will chase Algieri down, cut the ring off and pin him against the ropes or into a corner to detonate his explosive combinations. Algieri hopes to turn it into a tactical fight and is confident he will outsmart Pacquiao. He won’t want to engage because of the high risk of destruction.
Pacquiao wouldn’t predict the outcome but said he will do his best to fashion a decisive win. Trainer Freddie Roach said he’s ready to put money on a Pacquiao knockout inside six rounds. Conditioning coach Justin Fortune said he’s betting on a knockout in the first three rounds.
Algieri said his rhythm and timing will offset Pacquiao’s speed and power. He plans to do to Pacquiao what Juan Manuel Marquez did in delivering a sneak knockout blow with two seconds left in the second round of their fourth encounter two years ago. Credibility is a problem because Algieri’s drawback is a lack of power, evident in his record of 20-0 with only 8 KOs. Of his eight KO victims, four had losing records so even the quality of his opposition is questionable.
What makes Algieri a deserving challenger is the guts that he displayed in surviving two early knockdowns and a swollen-shut right eye to pound out a split 12-round decision over Ruslan Provodnikov in New York last June. That rewarded Algieri with the WBO lightwelterweight crown and a shot at Pacquiao’s belt. Algieri earned $100,000 for facing Provodnikov. Top Rank chairman Bob Arum recently said Algieri will be paid $2.75 Million for this morning’s fight. Pacquiao will receive at least $20 Million.
It will take more than guts to beat Pacquiao who continued to dodge questions about the prospects of battling Floyd Mayweather in a possible trilogy to start in May next year. Pacquiao said his only focus is Algieri for the moment. After he disposes of Algieri, then Pacquiao will begin to talk serious business for his next fight.
Fortune said Pacquiao is in tip-top physical condition. “I don’t know if he’s in the best shape of his life but from what Manny’s shown in the gym, it’s like his condition back in the day,” said Fortune. “He’s like a machine. There’s no way Algieri will beat him.” Fortune joined Pacquiao’s team starting in the first Marco Antonio Barrera fight in 2003 and stayed on until the Jorge Solis bout in 2007. Pacquiao brought him back to camp for the Brandon Rios fight last year but Fortune couldn’t make the trip to Macau. Fortune returned to Pacquiao’s corner with Roach and Buboy Fernandez when the Filipino regained the WBO welterweight crown from Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas last April.
Pacquiao’s brother Bobby said speed and technique will seal the win. “If you think Manny was in shape for Bradley in their rematch, he’s 100 percent in better condition now,” said Bobby. “I’m not making predictions but I can understand why experts are forecasting a knockout inside six rounds.”
Fortune said of the four sparmates who kept Pacquiao company during his two-month training grind in General Santos City, Viktor Postol and Stan Martyniouk provided the toughest workouts. Mike Jones hung around until he left to take a job as a sparmate in Japan. Former London Olympian Jose Carlos Ramirez showed up but sparred only four rounds with Pacquiao. The sparring imports were reportedly paid $1,000 a week.
After the weigh-in yesterday, Pacquiao was scheduled to preside at a Bible study in his Venetian Hotel South Suite from 3 to 5 p.m. Pacquiao arranged for nine pastors from different born-again Christian churches in General Santos City to sing the national anthem before the fight this morning instead of Jessica Sanchez who was supposed to fly in from Los Angeles to do the job. Pacquiao is devoted to his Christian faith and has established his own fellowship called the Word For Everyone Movement. A two-storey Bible sanctuary is now under construction behind Pacquiao’s home in General Santos City and it will be the home of his fellowship.
Last Friday, Pacquiao was joined by pastors, visitors, well-wishers and believers in a stirring Bible study in his suite. Among those who called on Pacquiao were Solar president Wilson Tieng, Rep. Bing Leonardia, Mayor Monico Puentevella, former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, lawyer Romy Macalintal, businessman Hermie Esguerra, Van Dolph, Andrew E and the Kia basketball team including L. A.Revilla, Joshua Webb, Reil Cervantes, Mike Burtscher and Hans Thiele.