Pacquiao may plan a stellar performance to put pressure on Mayweather
[BoxingGlove Notes]
There is always the often used cliché, “He sold me the Brooklyn Bridge, and I bought it”.
Well, at yesterday’s press conference at the Liberty Theater in Times Square, Manhattan, Filipino Senator and world boxing champ Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao, crowned 8 times in 10 weight divisions, smooth talked appreciation for the opportunity to fight Chris Algieri the reigning W.B.O. 140 pound champion.
Manny said all of the right politically correct right things praising Algieri as a great champ and deserving of an opportunity to fight him, especially at the end of his career.
Is this a con-game by Pacquiao to relax Algieri into thinking he has an easy-ride fight with the PacMan?
Let’s explore what has happened in this 12 day, 27,000 mile, 2 countries, 5 cities publicity tour for this mega fight. It takes place in Macao, China, on Saturday, November 22, 2014, at the Hotel Venetian Cotai Arena.
Starting from Macao, both combatants traveled together in the same jet taking both parties to Shanghai, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York. Opponents, traveling together is very unusual, and that is a first in boxing.
In some of those cities like San Francisco they were interviewed together and also competed in some friendly games such as throwing out the first pitch for the San Francisco Giants game, and home run hitting contest. “I crushed the first ball pitched to me, and sent it over the fence in left center” said an excited Algieri, “but Manny just fouled his ball” he further said with a smile.
Pacquiao and Algieri also competed in basketball, billiards, and bowling which was somewhat competitive; but Algieri always won.
Basketball was the sport of contention since Manny Pacquiao is a professional basketball player with his own team in the Philippines.
Many speculate that Pacquiao the diplomat, let Algieri win all of the games.
“The important win is on November 22, 2014, when Manny defends his W.B.O. Welterweight Title against Chris, and then you will see a different result, and a different winner,” says Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s long-time trainer.
Talking with Chris Algieri, 20-0, 8 k.o.s , of his surprise upset win over Ruslan “The Siberian Rocky” Provodnikov, last June 14, I got the impression that despite the fact that he is now in the lime light of boxing celebrity, being recognized everywhere, signing autographs, taking pictures, his feet are solidly on the ground. He has recognized the perils of instant stardom, especially in the ring, which could be short-lived because of who he is fighting.
Uncommon in the hurt business, Algieri is a very well educated College graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree, and a Masters Degree in Clinical Nutrition. He added, “I was able to pay off all of my student loans and when my fighting days are over I want to dedicate my life to medical health.”
Algieri also further stated that his interest in boxing came from competing in Kick Boxing which is tougher than boxing and he is well prepared for whatever Pacquiao who he has admired for years, will bring to the ring.
Algieri turned pro April 4, 2008 knocking out Ken Dunham in the 1st round. “I will be ready to put together my battle plan with my trainers, Keith Trimble and Tim Lane. I have even sparred with Marcos Maidana,” he said, referring to the fighter who at the time was preparing for his second fight with Floyd Mayweather.
Algieri, the bachelor who is of Italian and Argentine decent, still lives with his Mom in Huntington, Long Island.
Algieri has been often compared to the great “Wil-O-Wisp”, Willie Pep in his fighting style, especially after his win over Provodnikov, where he had to fight with his right eye shut from a Ruslan punch the entire 12 rounds, risking a stoppage by the referee or the ring doctor.
The veteran Manny Pacquiao, 56-5-2, 38 knockouts, current W.B.O. Welterweight Champion, takes this fight very seriously like all of his other 63 career fights. He knows, that Algieri is a smart young fighter who perhaps defeated an over-confident Provodnikov, with his speed and boxing skills.
As always, with the intensity that Roach brings to the gym in preparing for a fight, he’ll be ready to avoid a defeat. Pacquiao cannot afford a let down at this time of his career because there is still the possibility of the mega pay-per-view match with Floyd Mayweather, and he also indicated that he may fight Juan Manuel Marquez a 5th time.
The press conference was one of the few that was really very festive even when the fighters had their face-offs. They smiled at each other, and they even laughed when Algieri at 5’10’’, taller than 5’6’’ Pacquiao, made fun of his height, and squatted down to meet him face to face, and shake hands.
Despite Chris Algieri’s rags-to-riches celebrity ring status, and great defensive and offensive skills –he still practices kick boxing– he is facing one of the most feared machines of destruction in the ring in Manny Pacquiao.
If Algieri wins, it will have been after a hard fought, hard earned decision indicating that Pacquiao is really shop worn. It would mean at age 35, it is time for him to retire.
I don’t see this happening because of Pacquiao’s last fight with Tim Bradley, on April 12, 2014, which he completely dominated. Even with major set-backs such as being knocked out by Marquez, he is still a formidable foe for anyone in the ring, including Mayweather.
Manny Pacquiao will catch up to the “Cinderella Man”, Chris Algieri, by the 9th round and knock him out.
I do not rule out that a very confident Chris Algieri, Kick Boxing world champ, could shock the boxing world and defeat Manny Pacquiao. This would damage the possibility of a mega Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao.
But Algieri would probably say, “Too bad, that’s not my problem.”
