Pacquiao vs. Algieri 2014: Dissecting Boxing Styles of Pac-Man and Algieri

Styles make fights. If you love boxing, you've undoubtedly heard that expression several times. The way the styles of two fighters mesh is where any pre-fight analysis begins.

With the Manny Pacquiao-Chris Algieri bout set to take place on Saturday night in Macau, China, it's time to take a look at how the two combatants match up in the ring. 

Tale of the Tape

Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press

Manny Pacquiao		Chris Algieri
35	Age	30
5’6.5”	Height	5’10”
145	Weight in last fight	140
67”	Reach	72”
56	Wins	20
5	Losses	0
2	Draws	0
60.32	KO Percentage	40
Philippines	Country	United States

 

Algieri's Offense vs. Pacquiao's Defense

With just eight knockouts in his career, Algieri isn't exactly heavy-handed. Despite the absence of power, he is still an effective puncher. He stays busy throughout the fight and usually throws a wealth of shots at his opponent.

In Algieri's last fight against Ruslan Provodnikov, he threw 993 punches.

His work rate helped him earn the decision. Of the 993 punches, 566 of them were jabs, per Jose Santoliquito of Sherdog. Perhaps the most important skill Algieri possesses is a mixture of offense and defense.

Not many boxers can fight while moving backward. Algieri can. At 5'10", he's long for a welterweight. He'll have a 3.5" height advantage over Pacquiao and a five-inch edge in reach. Being able to keep his distance and land when he's out of Pacquiao's range is essential to Algieri's hopes of pulling off the upset.

Throughout most of his career, Pacquiao wasn't much of a defensive fighter. His idea of defense was simply more aggressive offense. Since he was viciously knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez back in Dec. 2012, Pacquiao has employed more head and foot movement.

We've only seen this wrinkle in Pacquiao's game against Brandon Rios and Timothy Bradley. Rios was a slow and one-dimensional fighter who couldn't touch Pac-Man with a 10-foot pole.

Bradley had the speed and skill to give Pacquiao problems. However, he chose to try and trade with Pacquiao to prove a point in the rematch. It was ill-advised as Pacquiao took the unanimous decision.

Algieri won't make the same mistake. He'll be looking to fire off the majority of his shots from a safe distance.

 

Pacquiao's Offense vs. Algieri's Defense

At one point in Pacquiao's career, his offense was a devastating blend of speed and power. The power may not be there the way it used to be, considering he hasn't stopped an opponent since 2009, but the speed is still prevalent. 

Per Greg Logan of Newsday, Timothy Bradley believes Algieri is going to find out about Pacquiao's speed: "Oh, man. 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."

Pacquiao showed he still had zip on his punches in his last two fights, but neither Rios nor Bradley moved as much as Algieri will. 

Against Provodnikov, Algieri proved he could execute a game plan to perfection. By employing lateral movement and firing quick combinations, he disturbed Provodnikov's rhythm and picked the Siberian apart with shots from a distance.

If Algieri can establish his jab and get Pacquiao to chase him, as opposed to cutting off the ring, we might have another upset on our hands. If Pacquiao's speed cancels out Algieri's movement, Pac-Man might end his KO drought.

We'll see for sure on Saturday night in Macau.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.