This Saturday night in Macao, China, the Filipino national hero, Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao, puts his World WBO welterweight title on the line against undefeated and now former WBO World junior welterweight champion, Chris Algieri.

There is a certain controversy surrounding the stripping of Algieri’s strap. Manny Pacquiao 58-5-2 (KO 38 – KO% 60.32) was in a similar situation, also with the WBO when ‘Pacman’ faced off against Mexican hard man Antonio Margarito, back in 2010.

Pacquiao, at the time held the 147 pound WBO belt whilst he stepped up to face Margarito for the 154 pound title (fought at a catchweight of 150). Normally the sanctioning bodies give the fighter the opportunity to decide if and when said fighter wins the new belt at the new weight, they then decide which weight they will choose to defend at. This, unfortunately, for whatever reason, has not happened in the case of Chris Algieri 20-0 (KO8 – KO% 40)

Manny Pacquiao, 35, has not had a KO victory since he stopped Puerto Rican star, Miguel Cotto, back in 2009. It certainly seems that Pacquiao’s ferocious power has not carried up to welterweight and looks unlikely to at any stage. I mean, it’s not like the power was going to keep rising in parallel with ‘Pacman’ as he made his monumental charge through the weight classes, laying great fighters in his wake along his path. It had to stop at some time. On the flip side of that, they say your power is the LAST thing to go. Make of that what you will.

Chris Algieri, 30, is hardly a concussive puncher. He is however, a very slick and highly skilled boxer. Algieri is also a former kick boxing world champion. Last time out, Algieri outpointed the very, very tough ‘Siberian Rocky’ Ruslan Provodnikov. Provodnikov had Algieri down twice in the first round, with Algieri suffering a terrible mouse to his right eye, all but closing the eye. This certainly did not throw Chris Algieri off his game plan. Most would have wilted and shrank, against the juggernaut that is Provodnikov. Algieri stuck to his boxing and got the decision victory over the Russian on the scorecards. This showed huge heart from Chris Algieri and this is why I give the American a good chance against the somewhat declining Pacquiao.

I will attempt to try and make sense of how I have weighed things up.

Pacquiao did not (in my opinion) at any time look like he had Tim Bradley going anywhere near the canvas in either of the two bouts between Pacquiao and Bradley. I will add to that, the fact that Bradley lifted Pacquiao of the canvas, with a shot to the body. Bradley has no real power.

Provodnikov had Tim Bradley seriously concussed (Bradley admitted as much himself) and on the canvas and pretty much out on his feet numerous times in the bout between Bradley and Provodnikov. Bradley is super tough, a great chin. Provodnikov is a lethal puncher.

Provodnikov sparked Algieri to the canvas twice, in the first round of the two mens clash a few months back. Algieri went on to claim a points decision over Ruslan Provodnikov.

Now, bare with me here. If Provodnikov can have the very strong chinned Tim Bradley, basically running for his life around the ring, and Manny Pacquiao couldn’t have Bradley running for his life (Pacquaio did have Bradley running, don’t get me wrong, but not for his life) then how can Pacquiao with his seemingly diminished power trouble Algieri at all, when Algieri took Provodnikov’s best licks and totally out-boxed the come forward mauler?

OK, the fight is at a catchweight of 144 but even so, will that prove to deliver the KO Roach and Pacquiao seem so desperate for? I personally don’t see it. The Pacquiao power is gone I’m afraid and its been gone for a long time.

Lets factor in the advantages Chris Algieri has at his disposal over Manny Pacquiao.

Algieri: Age 30.
Pacquaio: Age 35.
Algieri: Reach 72 inch.
Pacquaio: Reach 67 inch.
Algieri: 5′ 10″ / 178cm.
Pacquaio: 5′ 6½″ / 169cm.

I will add to all of these advantages Algieri has to his benefit, the fact that Chris Algieri is an undefeated professional boxer, and while it has no real effect on the sport of boxing, Algieri is also an undefeated kick boxing world champion. My point here is Chris Algieri DOES not know how to lose. This a huge factor in any sport.

Algieri is also very, very hungry. He believes in himself, that much is crystal clear. I will stick my neck out on this one and go for a points victory on the scorecards for Chris Algieri.

With everything I have mentioned, and especially the betting odds for Algieri, you would be a fool not to take a gamble, in my humble opinion. I am not hating on Manny Pacquiao at all, how could you not like Pacquiao? I just think ‘Pacman’ will struggle with Algieri’s skills over the 12 rounds, at this stage of his long and tough career.

This is the kind of stylistic match up that would serve Manny Pacquiao well, if he was to be going into a bout with Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather next time out.

I’m of the opinion that Mayweather and Pacquiao and the whole “will they, wont they” thus far, I kind of think it’s down to if they did fight each other back in 2010 lets say, and one lost by a wide margin or was knocked out cold, that would dent the earning potential of the loser of the fight, in future bouts.

I would not be surprised if both men had an agreement in place to stay away from each other so they can both continue to make good money without facing each other, until possibly their final bout.

Stranger things have happened, especially in the sport of boxing.

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BOXING STARS ON PACQUIAO-ALGIERI: PREDICTIONS FROM TIM BRADLEY, PAULIE MALIGNAGGI, BRANDON RIOS, KEITH THURMAN & MORE

https://ontheropesboxing.com/?p=5780