Pacquiao vs. Algieri Predictions: Pre-Weigh-in Projections for Title Fight

Manny Pacquiao is not yet through with his illustrious career. The Filipino legend will put his WBO welterweight title on the line against upstart challenger Chris Algieri at The Venetian Macao in Macau, China on Nov. 22. 

The catchweight for the bout is 144 pounds, per Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole, and while the weigh-in has yet to take place, it's not too early to project just how this intriguing clash might play out on Saturday night.

Pacquiao has been respectful in the buildup to the fight, knowing he can't grow careless just because he is nearing the end of a long career and his opponent lacks prestige.

"My time is not over yet. I'm not predicting a knockout, but I'm looking for a good fight and looking to prove I can still fight," he said, via Reuters' Kieran Mulvaney.

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Pacquiao is smart not to assume the bout will end early. Algieri proved in his split-decision victory over Ruslan Provodnikov—the bout that earned him the WBO light welterweight title and set up this duel with Pacquiao—that he is indeed tough as nails despite the advanced degrees and boyish face.

Provodnikov knocked Algieri down twice in the first round, but the challenger recovered and managed to outbox the Siberian the rest of the way and earn a split-decision victory—with a horrifically swollen right eye, no less.

Algieri, who also outclassed the hard-hitting Emmanuel Taylor in February 2014, has proved he can take a punch. Pacquiao, who hasn't knocked out an opponent since 2009, will have to be wary of Algieri's reach and conditioning. Timothy Bradley, whom Pacquiao defeated earlier this year to avenge a loss in June 2012, opted for an aggressive strategy in Pac-Man's most recent bout, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael:

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Still, that strategy played into Pacquiao's hands because he was so aggressive, bordering on being reckless. Pacquiao let his hands fly throughout the fight and although he couldn't knock Bradley down, he landed dozens of powerful punches and left no doubt that he deserved the victory to reverse the split decision loss he suffered on June 9, 2012.

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Algieri likely won't come forward quite as much, but he is looking to control the pace of the fight, as he wrote in the New York Post: "If I go out there and I’m able to set the pace and be the ring general and control the fight, the fight is mine. The strategy is set. I understand it. I feel it. I know what I need to do."

Algieri is noted for his fantastic conditioning, but it's not like outlasting Pacquiao is a surefire winning strategy, no matter how aggressive the Filipino boxer is on Saturday night. This is especially true if Pacquiao can match Algieri's endurance levels through training.

Going right at Algieri and forcing him to match his speed and power should give Pacquiao the points needed to score a win.

Ring Magazine's Ryan Songalia noted Pacquiao looks fantastic in training: 

Hopefully, it's enough to keep the head clear and the lungs full through the later rounds, as Pacquiao will need to be sharp when facing Algieri's jab.

The New York native has a distinct reach advantage—72" to Pacquiao's 67"—but he lacks the punching power (just eight knockouts in 20 wins) necessary to dissuade Pacquiao from coming forward with quick flurries and combinations.

This isn't to say Algieri won't land his fair share of stinging, powerful blows, but it's difficult to see him landing more than his opponent. His best bet is to frustrate Pacquiao with a steady jab, keeping the ferocious fighter at bay while limiting his movement.

Defense will be of the utmost importance, although this is where Pacquiao's hand speed should come into play.

Isaac Brekken/Associated Press

Bradley doesn't believe the 30-year-old challenger knows what's in store for him on Saturday.

"He's going to learn Nov. 22 what fast is all about. Manny Pacquiao? Lightning-fast, reflexes, angles. He's going to see what that's like. He definitely is. Good luck to him, though, man..." he said via, Newsday's Greg Logan.

If Pacquiao can utilize his superior speed and dig into Algieri's torso, taking the wind out of him and making it tough to move around the ring, he should win comfortably. It's hard to give style points to a haggard fighter. One good punch can finish any boxer, but Pacquiao should be able to move forward with impunity, knowing that Algieri lacks prodigious power.

Algieri, as evidenced by the video interview below, has no shortage of confidence coming into this bout. Unfortunately, that won't be enough for him to defeat the faster, more experienced boxer in Pacquiao, who should win by unanimous decision on Saturday night.

Both fighters come into this bout with plenty on the line. Pacquiao has numerous high-profile wins in his career, but legacy is always an issue when a boxer schedules a bout against a much younger, much less prestigious opponent.

Losing to Algieri would signal to some that a retirement for Pacquiao is in order. It would likely prove difficult for a title-less Pacquiao to set up any future bouts worth the potential punishment.

With a win, he would prove that he can successfully complete a title defense at an advanced age and could possibly set up the long-awaited bout with Floyd Mayweather. It might even be in his best business interest to let Algieri stick around.

"I only hope that Manny doesn't look so good [against Algieri] that it scares Floyd off," said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, via the Los Angeles Times' Lance Pugmire.

Should Algieri lose, he would likely disappear from the boxing spotlight and would need to defend his light welterweight title several times to earn another big bout. If the underdog wins, he would immediately be thrust into the spotlight as a Big Apple hero with classic good looks that promoters can get behind.