WBO light welterweight champion Chris Algieri need not win his upcoming fight against eight weight titlist Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 22 at the Cotai Arena of the Venetian Resort & Casino in Macau, China in order to remain wealthy and popular.
Just by signing up for the opportunity to face Pacquiao in the ring, Algieri has already gained membership in the millionaires club and he could remain popular despite possible loss to the Filipino boxing star. Algieri’s celebrity transformation wouldn’t be possible without the guidance of Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, who should be credited for his meteoric rise to stardom. Algieri shot to stardom when Arum gave him a rare opportunity to be Pacquiao’s next opponent following his controversial win over Ruslan Provodnikov, a friend and former sparring partner of Pacquiao. The publicity that Algieri is getting for being associated with Pacquiao’s name in the lead-up to the Nov. 22nd fight is unprecedented, making him an instant celebrity not only in sports but in entertainment as well. In less than three weeks, Algieri will share the spotlight with Pacquiao as a part of a series of press conferences aimed at boosting their popularity in order to generate PPV and ticket sales for the event. The media exposure that Algieri will get would be unrepresented as the fight schedule draws near. With high awareness rating, Algieri will likely be getting endorsement offers especially if he performs well against Pacquiao. A verdict in his favor could land him in The Ring’s top pound-for-pound list and figure in a lucrative rematch with Pacquiao as provided in their contract. But even with a loss, Algieri would still remain popular because of the massive media coverage he got for the Pacquiao fight. Win or lose, Algieri will remain a popular figure in the sport. It is not surprising if Algieri gets acting offers and become a popular actor because of his good looks.
