If a one-dimensional puncher like Ruslan Provodnikov could give Chris Algieri a taste of hell, imagine what Manny Pacquiao can dish off against the unbeaten but vastly inexperienced Algieri on Nov. 23 in Macau.
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who is about to close the book on what he described as “the best training camp ever” in his more than 13 years of working the corner of the 35-year-old Pacquiao, said he is certain that Algieri will be in for a shock.
“Ruslan is not like Manny. (They’re) totally different,” said Roach late last week before presiding over the Filipino’s last few workouts in General Santos City. Algieri’s claim to fame was picking himself up from two firstround knockdowns against Provodnikov last June in New York en route to a dramatic decision win that paved the way for a shot at Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.
“Manny’s going to take care of Ruslan, easily,” said Roach, who will be on board one of two AirAsia A320 jets that will fly the massive Pacquiao entourage from General Santos City to Macau later today.
Last week, Pacquiao and Roach conspired on combinations and angles aimed at forcing the 30-year-old Algieri to fall into a trap, a situation where the New Yorker exposes himself to the Filipino’s thudding power punches.
Roach believes that as soon as the fighting congressman lands, Algieri will realize he doesn’t belong in the same ring as Pacquiao.
The 5-10 ½ Algieri, who arrived in Macau over the weekend, holds an eye-popping four-and-a-half inch height advantage and possesses a stiff left jab.
Still, Roach feels Pacquiao, the only fighter who has won eight titles in as many weight classes, will simply be too much for Algieri, a former full contact karate and kickboxing champion.