On November 22, at the Cotai Arena of the Venetian Resort & Casino in Macau, China, WBO welterweight titleholder Manny Pacquiao will use his vast experience as a boxer to secure a convincing victory against unbeaten American Chris Algieri.
There is an old saying that experience is the best teacher. Indeed it will be when Pacquiao squares off with Chris Algieri on Nov. 22 in China. Pacquiao is miles ahead of Algieri when it comes to actual experience in the boxing ring. Comparing their boxing credentials, Pacquiao has been in fierce battle against the best boxers in the world in the early part of his pro career. While he suffered back-to-back defeats in 2012 that includes a controversial loss to Timothy Bradley and a devastating knockout loss against Mexican foe Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao has risen from where he fell to score two straight victories over the rugged Brandon Rios and against Timothy Bradely in a rematch. Pacquiao has fought 63 times since turning pro in 1995, scoring 56 wins with 38 of those winning fights ending in a knockout in his favor. The eight-division world titlist has engaged the world’s best boxers in his generation and even fought giants in the higher division that included the towering Antonio Margarito and the physically superior Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico. Pacquiao’s experience in the ring will definitely play a very decisive role in his upcoming fight against Algieri whose ring experience is substantially dwarfed by Pacquiao’s own ring record. Algieri has fought just about one third of the total fights that Pacquiao did over the last 20 years of his pro career. Although his pro boxing record is spotless, Algieri definitely lacks experience in the ring compared to Pacquiao’s own professional record. The unbeaten American from New York has a pro record of 20 winning fights without a single loss. Although he was actively doing kick boxing before switching to the real game, Algieri has not experienced fighting high-level boxers like Pacquiao, whose number of pro fights dwarfs Floyd Mayweather’s own 47 career record. Algieri’s only two pluses are his height and reach which he can capitalize on come fight night and while it is true that he also has speed like Pacquiao, his power leaves much to be desired. But Algieri talks about athleticism to drive a point that he will have superior endurance in the ring especially in the later rounds when he anticipates that Pacquaio will slow down due to exhaustion.
Timothy Bradley (L) defends against Manny Pacquiao during their WBO World Welterweight Championship title match in Las Vegas on April 12, 2014 Joe Klamar, AFP Like this image On the other hand, Pacquiao has always been in tough shape and has never shown exhaustion in 12-rounder fights. Freddie Roach, his trainer for over a decade, has even complained that Pacquiao had on many occasions in the past, would usually ask for more rounds during sparring sessions. Joel Diaz, who was at Bradley’s corner twice in the Pacquiao fights said that while Algieri has a slim chance for a possible upset, he seems resigned to the idea that Algieri will survive Pacquiao’s speed and power in the ring. ?I mean everything possible,? explained Diaz. ?Every opponent has a chance. But I just think that Algieri has a very minimal chance against a guy that is fast, strong, and can hit with both hands. He?s (Pacquiao) very unpredictable. Once you?re in the ring with Manny Pacquiao, your adrenaline is so high because of the intensity Manny Pacquiao brings and it wears you down.? But aside from Diaz credible observation based on his actual experience with the Bradley-Pacquiao fights, it would still redound to Pacquiao’s vast experience in the ring that will carry him to victory.
