Pacquiao vs. Algieri: Full Card, Odds and Projections for Main Event Title Fight

Saturday is the definition of a lose-lose situation for Manny Pacquiao.

He steps into the ring against an undefeated Chris Algieri in an effort to retain his WBO Welterweight Championship in China at The Venetian Macao in Macau. The problem is, Pacquiao is a heavy favorite, which means a close encounter or loss will cause him a world of hurt.

A win will cause nobody to bat an eyelash.

Algieri is very quietly a suitable opponent, and the rest of the card is stacked with international flair worthy of the spotlight.

Should things not go as planned by Top Rank, though, chaos will sweep the boxing realm.

Pacquiao vs. Algieri Card and Predictions

Matchup (Odds)	Predicted Winner
Chris Algieri (+475) vs. Manny Pacquiao (-750)	Manny Pacquiao
Kwanpichit OnesongchaiGym vs. Zou Shiming	Zou Shiming
Vasyl Lomachenko (-10000) vs. Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo (+1600)	Vasyl Lomachenko
Antonio DeMarco (+230) vs. Jessie Vargas (-300)	Jessie Vargas
Fadhili Majiha vs. Jerwin Ancajas	Jerwin Ancajas
Espinos Sabu vs. Rex Tso	Rex Tso
Stephen Attard vs. Kuok Kun Ng	Stephen Attard
Andrew Robinson vs. Qu Peng	Qu Peng

Card via TopRank.com. Odds, where available, via Odds Shark as of Nov. 19 at 7 a.m. ET.

Storylines to Watch

Hunt for the Finish

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Formerly known as a knockout artist, Pacquiao's reputation in that area continues to fade as his knockout percentage flirts with dipping below 60 percent. 

The culprit, of course, is the lack of a knockout over the course of the past five years. In fact, the only knockout in Pacquiao's last eight fights came against Juan Manuel Marquez—but when the Filipino hit the canvas for the count, not the other way around.

It sounds as if Pacquiao is ready to turn things around in this regard—at least based on comments from trainer Freddie Roach.

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

"Manny told me, 'One round,'" Roach said, per Greg Logan of NewsDay. "He's never done that. He won't repeat it, but that's what he said: 'One round.'"

The possibility for a big finish is certainly there, especially with Algieri taking a big step up in a catchweight at 144 pounds, which may put the challenger at a serious disadvantage. That, and Pacquiao's speed, which Roach has made sure to point out as of late.

"Algieri thinks he's fast, but he doesn't know how fast Manny is until he gets in the ring," Roach said, per Logan. "He's going to be overwhelmed with Manny's speed. He's in way over his head."

Pacquiao still has the speed to make a statement heard around the world, even in a fight he is supposed to win by a landslide. His lack of an awe-inspiring moment over the course of the past few years is more due to the underappreciated talents of those who have stepped into the ring with him as opposed to a massive decline in his own skill.

Saturday is a chance to alter the perception, anyway.

Countering Adversity

This underdog has some bite, though.

Algieri is 20-0 so far with a knockout percentage of 40, with notable wins this year coming against Emmanuel Taylor and Ruslan Provodnikov. The latter was a dangerous knockout artist whom Algieri avoided with great timing and speed—something that will be of much use to him come Saturday.

"That way I can hit him before he hits me," Algieri said, per Mark Whicker of USA Today. "He has speed, but timing beats speed. People question my punching ability, but Provodnikov didn't walk through my punches, and he was bulletproof. Other people's opinions are really none of my business."

The New York native has some of the best conditioning Pacquiao will have seen from an opponent in the ring in recent years, which means Algieri has the ability to go the distance if his chin holds up against an early frontal assault.

Algieri has the heart and outright skill to counter everything coming at him, but talking about it and executing it are two different things entirely.

Prediction

David Becker/Getty Images

Algieri is a long way from home Saturday. He is also a long way away from getting the benefit of the doubt from judges in a bout that may have a handful of very close rounds. 

While Pacquiao sounds as if he wants to come in hot and end things early—especially considering it sounds like Algieri was picked for this very reason—his lack of an ability to do so over the course of the past few years speaks volumes.

The challenger may not play along with the narrative Top Rank is attempting to write. Algieri has the speed and conditioning to take this fight the distance, although actually winning is out of the question.

When things get to the scorecards, it will be all Pacquiao thanks to his timing, angles and reputation.

Prediction: Pacquiao via unanimous decision.

Stats and info via BoxRec.com unless otherwise specified.