By Norm Frauenheim–
Chris Algieri is good enough to fight Manny Pacquaio, but he might not be good enough to beat some of his sparring partners.
That, at least, was Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach’s suggestion Thursday in a conference call from the Philippines where the Filipino Congressman is training in his hometown, General Santos City, for a Nov. 22 bout with Algieri in Macao.
“We’ve got some great sparring partners …I think some better than our opponent, but we’ll see,’’ Roach said.
The comment from the ever-honest Roach caused a few ripples. It begged for a follow-up and, sure enough, Roach was asked to explain.
“Sometimes, the truth hurts,’’ Roach said later in the call.
In terms of world-class credentials and experience, two of Pacquiao’s sparring partners, ex-welterweight contender Mike Jones and emerging junior-welterweight Viktor Postol, have more on their boxing resumes than Algieri, who jumped to the head of the line with a victory over Ruslan Provodnikov for a dramatic upset that complements a good back story. The New Yorker magazine portrayed the college graduate with two degrees as a real-life Rocky. It’s hard to predict whether that’s the hook that will bring cross-over fans back into the pay- per-view audience, which Pacquaio promoter Bob Arum says could be between 750,000 and 900,000 for the HBO bout.
Algieri brings something different to the table at a time when PPV customers are heading for the exits. There’s been a decline throughout 2014. Maybe, a guy, a virtual unknown a year ago, can reverse that trend. Everybody is a sucker for the guy not believed to have much of a chance. Algieri has already created his own chances by getting up from two knockdowns against the feared Provodnikov. There’s some doubt about whether he could repeat that kind of drama. Against Pacquiao, however, he’ll get that opportunity. It’s intriguing.
But, as Roach suggested, some of that intrigue is tempered by facts. Consider this: If Algieri were fighting Jones or Postol instead of Pacquiao, who would you pick? Jones beat Jesus Soto Karass twice. The unbeaten Postol (26-0) is a ranked contender at 140-pounds. His record includes victories over DeMarcus Corley and Selchuk Aydin. Combine their records, and they’re 52-2. Compare that to Algieri’s 20-0 resume. There is no comparison.
Postol and Jones, Roach said, are in Pacquiao’s camp because of their height. They are taller than Algieri, who is listed at 5-10 and looks down on the shorter Pacquiao in news conference photos. By the way, Pacquiao has been getting ripped for playing basketball in the Filipino league for the team, Kia, he coaches. Pacquaio says he won’t play again until after the fight. On the floor, however, the 5-7 Pacquaio was competing with guys bigger than even Jones and Postol. In terms of competing with much taller rivals, a few minutes on the basketball floor might have helped. But that’s another story.
Algieri’s advantage in height is a factor, especially in his ability to sustain an effective jab. But there’s more to it than that. Postol, a Ukrainian, might be a key to Pacquiao’s readiness. Above all, Algieri is a thinker. That, he says, will be his advantage. Pacquiao has been an instinctive fighter. If he gets on a roll, he’ll roll over anybody. But Algieri has taken a page out of Juan Manuel Marquez’ four-fight book on Pacquiao. Marquez disrupted Pacquiao’s instinctive rhythm. He threw different looks at him, forcing him to stop and adjust. That was just enough for Marquez to finally catch him wide open for the right hand that knocked out the Filipino in their last edition.
“I’ll make him think,’’ Algieri said Oct. 18 during a news conference at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., before Gennady Golovkin’s knockout of Marco Antonio Rubio.
Postol is also a thinker.
“He makes Manny think and that’s what Algieri will do,’’ Roach said of what might be the real truth as to why a current contender is in Pacquiao’s camp.
