Pacquiao makes his return to the ring on Sunday, when he takes on the 20-bouts unbeaten Chris Algieri in Macau.
Pacquiao’s fight this weekend against American champion Chris Algieri reaches the final build-up stage, and it includes a tinge of controversy.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Pacquiao’s trainer is telling anyone who will listen his man will knock out Algieri in the first round. Although, Algieri, has not lost a bout in his career.
“Freddie’s done quite a bit of talking,” Algieri told the Times. “I don’t have much of an opinion on it because it doesn’t matter what he says is going to happen.
“What matters is what’s going to happen. For me, it’s in and out of my mind. I’ve always been good at, if things don’t matter, I don’t worry about them.”
Boxing’s only eight-division world champion has 56 wins and 38 knockouts to his name and will look to extend his stunning record when he puts his WBO Welterweight crown on the line.
Algieri is confident. He says that he has already visualised a victory over Pacquiao, claiming that his jab, range, timing and rhythm will all upstage one of the greatest fighters of this generation.
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The American claims to have visualised a victory over Pacquiao in advance of 144-pound catch weight bout for the WBO welterweight belt in Macau, China, site of Pacquiao’s unanimous decision over Brandon Rios last November.
Standing 5-foot-11 to 5-foot-6.5 for his rival, Algieri (20-0, 8 knockouts) claims his “jab, range, timing and rhythm” will dethrone Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs), who represents the eighth southpaw he will have faced.
A rising WBO 140-pound belt holder, Algieri, 30, was an underdog in his last bout in June, when he overcame two first-round knockdowns as well as a right eye that was nearly closed shut for a dramatic split decision victory that dethroned Ruslan Provodnikov for his title.
Pacquiao, 35, was last in action in April when he dethroned Tim Bradley by unanimous decision to regain the belt he lost by split decision in their first meeting in June 2012. Pacquiao is 2-2 in his past four fights, including a loss by sixth-round stoppage against Juan Manuel Marquez in December 2012.
Pacquiao has hinted that his goal is to one day face Floyd Mayweather Jr. before he retires but that fight won’t materialise unless he convincingly defeats Algieri.
The 30-year-old Algieri, who has been billed by boxing promoters as the ‘real-life Rocky’ because of his rapid and improbable ascension to world title challenger, is not overawed by his situation.
“Yeah, it’s cool, but it doesn’t faze me,” he said in Macau this week ahead of his clash with Pacquiao in the 15,000 seat arena in the former Portuguese colony.
“I’ve literally seen this in my mind for a long time. And now it’s here, it isn’t I made it; it’s, this is where I’m supposed to be.”
Despite suffering two first-round knockdowns and having to fight with a swollen right eye, Algieri (20-0, 8 Knock Outs) prevailed via a 12-round decision to set up the Pacquiao clash.
Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) recognised that Algieri, who holds a Masters degree and is contemplating attending medical school, could see the fight as a potential springboard, in much the same way his own 2008 victory over Oscar De La Hoya helped transform him into a global name.
“I will not let that happen,” the 35-year-old Pacquiao said.
“My time is not over yet. I’m not predicting a knockout, but I’m looking for a good fight and looking to prove I can still fight.”
That is about as close to ‘talking trash’ as Pacquiao will allow himself, but his voluble trainer Freddie Roach was far more willing to dismiss Algieri’s chances.
“He’s in way over his head this time,” Roach told Reuters.
“Manny’s really on top of his game right now and he’s looking really good. He can’t wait to get in the ring with this guy and show the world he’s a better fighter.”
Undaunted, Algieri insists that he had the ability to beat Pacquiao.
“We’re not worried about what Manny’s going to do, we’re focused on what I’m going to do.
“And if I fight my fight, I win.”
The bravado only elicited a snort of derision from Roach.
“They’re trying to make out like Algieri is the next Rocky,” he said. “But this isn’t a movie.”
Pacquiao hasn’t knocked out an opponent in five years; expect full 12 rounds of welterweight boxing bout.
Algieri comes into the fight as the significant underdog but boasts 20-0 undefeated record, but he undeniably has not faced anyone of Pacquiao’s calibre.
But despite the fact the odds are in the favour of the Philippine-boxer, he still faces a stern task against an undefeated fighter who has a significant height and reach advantage on him.
A win for Pacquiao, who is the strong favourite, could lead him towards a 2015 showdown fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
@AnthonyNlebem
Anthony Nlebem
