Pacquiao vs. Algieri: Fight Odds, PPV Schedule and Tale of the Tape

As Manny Pacquiao looks to cement his pristine legacy with a statement victory, Chris Algieri can catapult from unknown to star by knocking off the boxing legend on Saturday night.

One competitor is certainly more regarded than the other. While Pacquiao will fight for his 57th career victory during his 18th world-championship fight, Algieri has abruptly risen up the ranks after upsetting Ruslan Provodnikov in June.

The former kickboxer enters the biggest fight of his career at an undefeated 20-0, but the 30-year-old has not faced the likes of Pacquiao before. Yet his hard-hitting style could create some trouble for the Filipino fighter in Macau, China. 

Here's a look at all the prudent information heading into the HBO pay-per-view.

Schedule

Date/Time	Location	TV
Sat. Nov. 22 at 9 p.m. ET	Macau, China	HBO PPV

Odds

Boxer	Opening Line	Current Line
Manny Pacquiao	-1250	-660
Chris Algieri	+650	+540

Tale of the Tape

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

Analysis

Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Reading into all the pre-fight coverage makes it abundantly clear that Pacquiao desires more than a simple victory. He wants to make an example out of Algieri to prove he still tops the sport's hierarchy.

Although the 35-year-old got back on the winning track with two victories, he hasn't obtained a knockout since 2009. That marks five years and eight fights since he triumphed without the judges making the final call, hardly befitting an icon. During a conference call earlier in the week, Pacquaio told reporters, via Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden, that he wants to unleash his "killer instinct" on Algieri.

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I don't want to underestimate my opponent. I have to prepare myself 100 percent. It’s been a while since the fans of Manny Pacquiao have seen the killer instinct like when I fought Cotto, Margarito, De La Hoya, Hatton. And that’s what I’m trying to show in this fight.

"

Trainer Freddie Roach also belabored their quest for a decisive win to ESPN.com's Dan Rafael.

"Believe me, he wants an emphatic victory. He needs an emphatic victory," Roach said. "That is why he has gone the extra mile in this camp to achieve that. Manny is going to drop the curtain on the Chris Algieri show."

This actually is one fight where a more tactical approach may serve the veteran well. Before stunning Provodnikov, Algieri had never tangled with anyone for 12 rounds. He won a dozen bouts by decision, but none of them spanned past 10 frames.

While Pacquaio failed to produce a highlight-reel knockout, he did box circles around Brandon Rios and Timothy Bradley for the duration of those two fights. Not the brawler of days past, he remains in excellent shape with swift agility to confound Algieri all night.

Yet the book on Algieri suggests he only gets stronger as the bout progresses. Ring Magazine's Ryan Songali cited his never-say-die nature as the primary reason Pacquiao can't let up.

Bernando Pilatti of ESPNDeportes.com also agrees with Pacquaio's camp about attacking early:

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Pacquiao needs to go for the knockout right at the beginning of the fight. During those early rounds, Algieri might very well be nervous, unfocused and could have trouble finding his rhythm. For example, against Ruslan Provodnikov in June, Algieri was floored twice in the opening round. It's the perfect time for Pacquiao to throw some big punches to try to end the match early.

"

Despite his undefeated mark, Algieri is often billed as a placeholder while Pacquiao campaigns to fight Floyd Mayweather down the road. Either boxer can't compete without the other drawing more attention than the opponent. That forward-thinking could manufacture a dangerous mindset for the favorite.

He can look far ahead at the dream fight against Mayweather, but it's all moot if Algieri orchestrates another upset. His enhanced size and range gives him an upper hand on Pac-Man, one that should send this clash the distance. 

Although Pacquiao is treating this night as a bridge to the foe he actually wants, Algieri has everything to gain and not much to lose if he can't pull off an epic win few onlookers expect from him anyway.