Unbeaten US fighter Chris Algieri has landed in Macau oozing with optimism.
The 30-year-old New Yorker arrived in the former Portuguese colony at around noon yesterday nine days before his scheduled crack at Manny Pacquiao’s world welterweight crown at The Venetian.
Joined by his battery of trainers, a beaming Algieri proudly struck a pose at the airport after the long flight that began in Las Vegas following an intense workout there.
Algieri is the massive underdog but the former full contact karate champion and kickboxing titlist remains unperturbed, saying he has what it takes to shock the world.
Holding a 20-0 win-loss record with eight KOs, the 5-10 ½ Algieri has a four-and-a-half inch height advantage over Pacquiao, who is seeking to score his first stoppage win in over five years.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, will depart for Macau direct from General Santos City on one of two AirAsia special planes immediately after his last sparring session on Monday.
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach says he’d like his ward to get the job done inside one round.
This will be Pacquiao’s second fight in Macau, while it’ll be Algieri’s first appearance outside New York. (Nick Giongco)