Boxing: Pacquiao vs. Algieri Preview

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Manny Pacquiao quieted doubters with a convincing unanimous decision victory over Timothy Bradley in April. While the 35-year-old Filipino is clearly not the fighter of his prime, he nonetheless proved he remains a skilled boxer in taking the scorecards from Bradley and avenging a controversial 2012 loss to the American.

The fight fans most want to see remains Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr., and recently the “Pac-Man” expressed a desire to make that fight happen. Of course, getting both fighters to want the same thing at the same time has proven to be a challenge over the years.

In the meantime, Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight championship against Chris Algieri on Saturday at the Cotai Arena in Macau, China. The bout will air via HBO pay-per-view beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. While Algieri is a significant underdog, he has the tools to defeat Pacquiao if the veteran champion takes the fight lightly. Let us take a closer look at the matchup:

WBO WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) vs. Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs)

THE MATCHUP: Algieri’s most obvious advantages are his height and reach. The American is one of the tallest foes Pacquiao has faced and employs a fighting style that makes good use of his physical tools. Algieri’s best weapon is his jab, and if all goes well, he will be able to use it consistently to keep the aggressive Pacquiao at a manageable range.

Algieri displayed resilience in capturing the WBO light welterweight title against Ruslan Provodnikov in June, when he was floored twice in the opening stanza but rallied to earn a split decision victory. The tool that propelled him to victory? His jab. Algieri’s ability to stick to his strengths after enduring heavy fire bodes well for him against an opponent who will keep the pressure on in hopes of forcing a brawl. However, Algieri will need versatility to defeat the more experienced Pacquiao. Along with his solid jab, Algieri must utilize right hands and counter left hooks to keep his adversary guessing. To outbox Pacquiao for 12 rounds is no easy task, but it is the most likely route for Algieri, who has gone the distance 12 times in 20 career fights. Pacquiao, meanwhile, is not the finisher he once was, as he has not won a bout via knockout since 2009. However, his experience gained in extended fights means he will not panic if Algieri hangs around early.

If Algieri cannot make Pacquiao pay consistently when he misfires on his trademark flurries, it will be a long night for the New York native. Bradley had early success landing his left jab and controlling distance in his rematch with the Filipino champion, but Pacquiao was able to gradually improve his movement and land combinations to Bradley’s single shots as the bout progressed. With that said, Algieri will need to be consistent with his output throughout.

THE PICK: While Algieri certainly has the length and movement to test Pacquiao early, it will not be enough to hold off his foe’s relentless aggression. Pacquiao may no longer be in his prime, but trainer Freddie Roach was correct when he said the “Pac-Man” is too skilled and too fast to be denied in this fight. Pacquiao wins by unanimous decision.