He’s not actually making a prediction, but Manny Pacquiao doesn’t relish the idea of spending 12 full rounds with Chris Algieri on Nov. 23 in Macau.
“We are scheduled to fight for 12 rounds but that’s just too long,” Pacquiao said when he welcomed a handful of Manila-based scribes Monday night to his palatial home in General Santos City.
“Six rounds (or less) will be enough,” Pacquiao said as he shadow-boxed a bit, his visitors focused on his every move.
Pacquiao is the prohibitive favorite in the world welterweight title clash at massive The Venetian Macao where an expected sellout crowd of more than 15,000 will gather at the CotaiArena.
With about five weeks to go before he travels to Macau with his entourage, spearheaded by chief trainer Freddie Roach and a battery of training assistants, including conditioning coach Justin Fortrune, Pacquiao looks in fiery form.
Pacquiao put on a sheepish grin when reminded that it’s been ages since he scored a stoppage win.
Told that while he stopped Miguel Cotto in November 2009, his last time to post an abbreviated win, it ended in the 12th round.
This time, Pacquiao wiped the smile off his face as he looks forward to turning the back the hands of time with a smashing showing against the unbeaten 30-year-old Algieri.
Everything points to just that as Pacquiao, who turns 36 on Dec. 17, has given Roach all the reason to be in a vibrant mood during the last few days of training.
But even if Roach is very pleased, the 54-year-old Hall of Fame trainer has instructed the gym staff to limit the number of persons given access to see Pacquiao work out.
During sparring days, which fall on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdayt, the media is only let in after the sparring sessions.
But during regular days, Roach is more amenable to seeing a bit more people milling around although it doesn’t mean every Tom, Dick and Harry can just go in and horse around during the training session.
“We are not taking this fight lightly,” said Roach.