Manny Pacquiao vs. Chris Algieri: Results, Stats and Outlook for Both Fighters
Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao produced a display brimming with patented intensity to dominate Chris “King of New York” Algieri in Macau, China. The American staggered through the bout to hear the final bell, but the iconic 35-year-old had his opponent on the canvas six times in what was a lopsided battle.
The scorecards made sorry reading for Algieri, as noted here by Bleacher Report:
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The legendary Filipino didn’t give his opponent an inch from the first bell to the last, and already talk has turned towards the next chapter to be written in his distinguished career. But first, let’s recap the action from this Manny masterclass before looking ahead to what lies in wait for both Pacquiao and Algieri.
Pacquiao Dominates in Every Category
Algieri moved up a weight division to challenge for the WBO welterweight belt, and truth be told, it showed from the toll of the opening bell. The American couldn’t live with the superior power and dynamism of Pacquiao, and every shot landed by Pac-Man seemed to sap Algieri’s impetus.
HBO Boxing provides us with an indication of how much stronger Pacquiao was in the opening exchanges:
Even when Algieri did occasionally attack, there was little clout behind any of his punches. He swiped wistfully with the jab and rarely looked to land any power shots, clearly wary of the threat Pacquiao posed on the counter. But as the fight rolled on, tactics quickly went out the window, as Manny asserted his dominance to great effect.
As noted here by HBO Boxing, Algieri was unable to impose an intensity in any way comparable to his previous bouts:
The statistics come the end of the fight were an emphatic reflection of Pacquiao’s superiority, as were the six times Algieri found himself on the canvas courtesy of some clinical shots from the Filipino (h/t Dan Rafael of ESPN):
| Landed | 229 | 108 |
| Thrown | 669 | 469 |
| Pct | 34% | 23% |
Everything about this fight was in Manny’s favour from start to finish, which is a testament to his qualities given Algieri was expected to be an awkward opponent. The American showed fortitude in spades and an irrepressible willingness to keep his slim hopes alive, but his first fight at a truly elite level provided him with the harshest of learning experiences.
Floyd Mayweather Must Come Next for Manny
Algieri will need to regroup on the back of that beatdown. Hopefully, 12 rounds with a fighter as classy as Pacquiao will have yielded plenty of experience, but going forward, you suspect the American will return to a lesser weight category where he can make better use of his rangy somatotype.
With his face swollen and bruised in the aftermath of the clash in Macau, it’s something the man from Long Island hinted at, per Top Rank Boxing:
This defeat was the first of Algieri’s professional career, so the next move he makes and what weight division he makes it in will be critical to his progression as a fighter. But at this juncture, a long rest and some extended time to recuperate are vital if he’s to reinvigorate his stature.
As for Pacquiao, the fight the world wants to see is that clash with Floyd “Money” Mayweather, and it’s something the Filipino touched upon in his post-fight interview. “I think it’s time to say something,” said Pac-Man, per Tim Dahlberg of Yahoo.com. “The fans deserve the fight. It’s time to make the fight happen.”
The fans certainly want the fight, and although the prospect of these two iconic boxers finally squaring off has been teased time and time again, this was the first time that Manny had directly called out Mayweather. For the best part of five years, the pair have somehow avoided locking horns, but at this point in both of their careers, the fight makes total sense.
It’s something that Bleacher Report’s Lyle Fitzsimmons looked at following Pacquiao’s latest triumph:
Nonetheless, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach insisted ahead of Pac-Man’s scrap with Algieri that even if his fighter shined in Macau, a bout with Money remains an unlikely proposition, per Dan Rafael of ESPN:
"It's been three to four years. It should have happened by now. What makes it different this time? If Manny looks good against Algieri, it will make Mayweather say no even more, so I just laugh at all this. Negotiating the money alone won't happen.
They'll never agree on the split Mayweather wants.
"
It seems the ball has been in Mayweather’s court for an extended time period now, and ultimately the decision rests with the current pound-for-pound king. ESPN’s Skip Bayless doesn’t think the fight will happen because Pacquiao is a major danger to Money’s glittering legacy:
Pacquiao could go toe-to-toe with Mexican veteran Juan Manuel Marquez for a fifth time, and although they've had some encapsulating contests, it’s a fight that doesn’t really capture the imagination anymore. Another potential opponent is Danny Garcia, who has won all 29 of his professional bouts so far.
But with both Mayweather and Pacquiao approaching the twilight years of their careers, this fight has to happen in the very near future if it’s to live up to the billing. Arguably, both of these iconic fighters are already past their best, but recent displays suggest they could still put on a cracking showpiece should they get it the ring. It must happen sooner rather than later, though.
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