Pacquiao vs. Algieri Rematch: Pros and Cons of Another Fight
Sometimes, boxers don’t need knockouts to prove how dominant they were in a given fight, and that was the case when Manny Pacquiao destroyed Chris Algieri by unanimous decision.
HBO Boxing passed along the judges’ scores:
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With such a lopsided result, we couldn’t possibly be in store for a rematch, right?
Stranger things have happened in the world of boxing, so let’s take a look at a few pros and cons of a potential rematch just in case.
The obvious con that immediately jumps out is the glaring difference in the overall talent level between Pacquiao and Algieri. It really wouldn’t be fair to Algieri’s career moving forward to subject him to another Pacquiao beatdown because two consecutive convincing losses to the Filipino could eliminate Algieri from serious consideration for major bouts in the future.
Chances are, he would always be seen as a middle-of-the-road boxer at best and a steppingstone on Pacquiao’s path back to greatness.
Another con is that the overall interest level just wouldn’t be there from the fans' perspective.
Selling pay-per-views may not be the main goal of boxing, but it is important. It would be difficult to convince boxing fans that another Pacquiao vs. Algieri bout would go any differently, especially since Pac-Man registered six knockdowns and controlled the entire match on Saturday.
Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Snowden echoed the sentiments of many during the bout on Saturday, so it would be difficult to generate much interest in another one:
"I paid my $69.95 because I want to see the fighters continue to make money for what they do. But this fights make me feel like a sap for it
— Jonathan Snowden (@mmaencyclopedia) November 23, 2014"
Another problem with a rematch is that it would delay the frequently discussed showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao yet again.
Mayweather is 37 years old, and Pac-Man will turn 36 in December; the more fights each boxer takes, the farther he gets from his prime before a potential showdown. At a certain point, the hypothetical fight just won’t be realistic anymore.
A rematch with Algieri would mean months of training, preparation and advertising for it for Pacquiao, which is time that could be devoted toward a match with Mayweather.
Ironically, Algieri’s name was connected to Mayweather before Saturday’s fight if a rematch were to happen. Pac-Man’s promoter Bob Arum discussed the outlook of the fight, via Jake Donovan of Boxing Scene: "As far as if Chris Algieri wins the fight against Manny Pacquiao, there is a provision in the contract for a rematch. If he beats Manny in a rematch, and Floyd wants to fight (Algieri), that’s none of my business. That’s up to (Algieri’s) promoter—Joe DeGuardia—and the Mayweather camp to discuss."
Of course, an Algieri win did not materialize, but it is interesting that Mayweather was seen as the next step for the winner of Saturday’s fight in that situation. Perhaps that means there is still a chance at the frequently discussed Mayweather vs. Pac-Man superfight?
All of these cons are not meant to suggest that another bout between Algieri and Pacquiao wouldn’t feature at least a couple of pros, even if they are not as strong as the cons.
For one, it would give Algieri another chance to bolster his career on the bright stage that accompanies Pacquiao in every fight. The 30-year-old was previously undefeated and could be an up-and-comer for the next couple of years. A win over Pacquiao would do wonders for his career.
Still, he would in all likelihood lose, which is why the risk of falling off completely (as mentioned in the cons) is something that would have to be weighed.
Another potential pro from Pac-Man’s perspective is that it would provide a realistic chance to finally shake off that knockout monkey that has been on his back since 2009.
ESPN’s Dan Rafael suggested during Saturday’s match that it was time for Pacquiao to register that knockout:
It hasn’t happened since 2009, and some questions about whether Pac-Man has lost his power or killer instinct that helped him become one of this generation’s greatest fighters naturally arise every time he doesn’t tally a stoppage.
To be fair, Pacquiao came as close as he could on Saturday without actually registering a stoppage. He finished with six knockdowns and completely controlled the match from the opening round.
He may just go for the early knockout if treated to a rematch.
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