Tall order for Pacquiao when he faces undefeated Algieri

Sport360 staff 10:53 27/08/2014
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  • Little and large: Pacquiao (l) is set to face the welterweight division's tallest fighter.

    Manny Pacquiao says he will need a special gameplan to defeat beanpole New Yorker Chris Algieri.

    The Filipino superstar gives away four inches in height and five inches in reach when the two men face off for Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight title in Macau, China, on November 22.

    The unbeaten Algieri (20-0) will in fact enter the fight a huge underdog against the eight-weight world champion, who returned to form with a one-sided points win over Timothy Bradley in April. 

    But Algieri, possibly the tallest fighter operating at 147 pounds, will present a different set of problems for Pacquiao, one of the division’s shortest, given his obvious physical advantages.

    “The biggest challenge for me is to fight another tall guy. I have to use my speed and footwork for this fight,” admitted the 35-year-old Pacquiao.

    It’s not a strange situation for the Filipino congressman, whose coach Freddie Roach says they already have a plan. He said: “Algieri has a good reach advantage and we’re going to have to get past that and his jab. 

    “That will be our biggest problem. We have ways to do that.”

    Algieri earned this step up in class  with a shock victory over Pacquiao’s stable-mate, Ruslan Provodnikov. 

    The Russian, also trained by Roach, landed some sickening blows but was outworked and eventually dropped a split decision in June. 

    “I saw his fight with Ruslan,” Pacquiao added. “He took a lot of bad punches from Ruslan but he’s tough.

    “He can box. I’m not saying he’s really good but he’s not bad. He’s okay.”

    Yet while the veteran Pacquiao may not be overly concerned by Algieri’s ability, the younger man is fully aware of the stature of who he is climbing in the ring with.

    “It is a real honour to fight a future hall of famer like Manny Pacquiao and I am looking forward to being introduced to a whole new market and fan base in the Far East,” said Algieri.

    “My last fight against Ruslan Provodnikov got the world’s attention, now I am going to show what I can really do.

    “I have the utmost respect for Manny and his great team, but make no mistake – I am here to win and I have nothing but becoming a legend on my mind.”

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