Pacquiao vs. Algieri: Overview and Predictions for Anticipated Bout
Don’t just assume Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) is going to walk into the ring on Saturday night in Macau and come away with an easy victory over Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) because of his name.
In case the undefeated record doesn’t give it away, Algieri is going to be a difficult opponent for the legendary southpaw—and one who should not be taken lightly.
Here is a look at the essential information for the anticipated bout.
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Date: Saturday, Nov. 22
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Macau, China
Odds: Manny Pacquiao -795, Chris Algieri +630, via OddsShark as of Monday evening at 7 p.m. ET
Algieri turned some heads when he upset Ruslan Provodnikov in his last fight despite being knocked down twice in the early going. His eye was completely swollen shut, yet he still managed to bounce back and control the tempo the rest of the way with his athleticism and signature jab.
It landed Algieri on the boxing map and made this headlining fight a reality for the undefeated challenger.
Of course, a stunning upset of Pac-Man would dwarf the fallout from the victory over Provodnikov and possibly set up a matchup with Floyd Mayweather.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though, because Pac-Man is still a considerable favorite. While there may not be a lot to gain in this fight for Pacquiao since he is supposed to win and risks the end of his relevancy as a big-time boxer moving forward with a loss, he will be looking to make a statement.
After all, Pacquiao hasn’t knocked an opponent out since he faced Miguel Cotto in 2009 and will try to answer any lingering questions about his killer instinct and power. That will be easier said than done against Algieri, though, considering he survived two monumental blows from Provodnikov and still managed to win.
Provodnikov packs more power behind his individual punches than Pac-Man and couldn’t knock Algieri out, so expecting a knockout on Saturday may be a moot cause.
Greg Logan of Newsday compared why Pacquiao’s left-handed flurry style of punches may not be a problem for Algieri, while it would be for someone like Mayweather:
“Or you could say Mayweather recognizes something in Pacquiao's unorthodox southpaw style that threatens his perfect 47-0 record, while Algieri (20-0, eight KOs) embraces the opportunity it presents because it's in his comfort zone.”
Logan noted that five of Algieri’s opponents were listed as lefties, and he also faced a number of southpaws in his kickboxing career.
Algieri will not be fazed by the lefty’s style and will attempt to control the bout with his athleticism, stamina and deadly jab. That jab could be a problem for Pacquiao because of Algieri’s height and reach advantages in this matchup.
Still, the lights will be brighter than Algieri has ever experienced before in this fight. Pac-Man has a vast experience advantage and will use his speed and technical footwork to set up opportunities to unleash a couple sets of his trademark flurry-style punches.
If there is a noticeable weakness in Algieri’s previous bouts, it is that he is a slow starter. Someone like Pacquiao can seize control in the early going and wear his opponent down throughout.
Then there is the possibility that Algieri is simply in over his head, as Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach suggested, via Mark La Monica of Newsday:
"He's a cocky kid. He's in over his head with Pacquiao. That master's degree in nutrition is not gonna help him…If he has any guts at all and wants to fight us a little bit and he's going for the world title, I think we'll knock him out…I don't care how many protein shakes he drinks a day, Manny is gonna kick his [butt].
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Algieri will be a difficult foe for Pac-Man, especially considering his length and athleticism, but Pacquiao will bring too much movement and speed to the table.
Algieri may be an up-and-comer, but he isn’t quite ready to handle Pacquiao’s constant motion and flurry of punches.
Prediction: Pacquiao wins by decision.
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