LONDON (Nov 20) – Unbeaten ace Chris Algieri has hailed Manny Pacquiao as \u2018one of the greatest fighters ever\u2019 but says he is ready to upset the boxing legend this weekend. <\/p>\n
The pair do battle at the Venetian Resort in Macau, live and exclusive on BoxNation, as Filipino hotshot Pacquiao puts his WBO welterweight belt up for grabs against the slick Algieri. <\/p>\n
The New York fighter sprung to prominence this summer following his gallant victory over the feared Siberian Ruslan Provodnikov, capturing his WBO light-welterweight world title despite having been down twice in the first round. <\/p>\n
Now, though, Algieri, who has a noticeable size advantage, admits that he is stepping in against one of the best to have ever laced up the gloves but is confident that he can shock the boxing world once again. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m tall for the weight class. I am built to go in and stand in front of the man and trade bombs \u2013 why would I do that? I\u2019ve got length, I\u2019ve got reach, I\u2019ve got speed; I\u2019ve got footwork and defence, but that\u2019s not what\u2019s going to be the difference in this fight,\u201d said Algieri. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a tall guy versus a short guy \u2013 it\u2019s Chris Algieri versus Manny Pacquiao. It\u2019s what I bring to the table versus what he brings to the table. I think a lot of it has to do with my mental preparation and mind going into this fight as well as what we know from Manny. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe know Manny is a living legend and a Hall of Famer for sure. He\u2019s one of the greatest fighters that have ever lived. For me, I have to go out there and be myself. I have the talent and the tools to win this fight \u2013 I just have to go out there and perform,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
One man who has not been too impressed with Algieri has been respected trainer Freddie Roach, who was in Provodnikov\u2019s corner the night the 30-year-old upset the odds and will once again be plotting his downfall, this time with Pacquiao. <\/p>\n
The Hall of Fame coach has labelled Algieri \u2018a runner\u2019 and been critical of the Long Island native\u2019s skill set, something which has left the challenger unaffected. <\/p>\n
\u201cFor one, he is wasting his time because I don\u2019t even read those reports. So that\u2019s the first thing. Secondly, I hear about them from other people around me and it doesn\u2019t make a difference to me,\u201d said Algieri. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems kind of odd for him to be coming out so much and saying so many different things and everyday it\u2019s a new thing. But like I said, I don\u2019t read them and I don\u2019t care about them and it doesn\u2019t make a difference come fight night. <\/p>\n
\u201cI would imagine it is some kind of strategy, a kind of mental game or whatnot. Freddie\u2019s been around a long time and maybe this has worked for him in the past but it\u2019s not going to work on me,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
The educated Algieri, who holds a master\u2019s degree in nutrition from Stony Brook University and is looking to enrol in medical school in the future, can\u2019t believe his sudden rise to the top, having amassed a steady 20-0 record. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s zero to one hundred and that is just the nature of the game. I told my mother a joke the other day and she said \u2018Chris, it\u2019s just the way you said it would happen.\u2019 It\u2019s nothing, then boom! <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a full on sprint. It\u2019s the nature of the business and I\u2019m not surprised by it. I\u2019ve been watching this sport for years and I have seen it with other fighters,\u201d Algieri said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI knew my time would come I just had to stay focused and disciplined and if you work hard good things happen. I am right where I am supposed to be,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
A victory over the \u2018Fighter of the Decade\u2019 in Pacquiao, however, will catapult Algieri onto a level even he couldn\u2019t have dreamed of a year ago. <\/p>\n
Looking ahead to his impending challenge, he has guaranteed an entertaining fight when he steps between the ropes this Saturday night. <\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I fight an aggressive style \u2013 smart-aggressive. I would have been more aggressive in the Ruslan Provodnikov fight if not because of my eye early in the fight. <\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t be confused with my style just from that one fight, because I know a lot have only seen that one fight. I am an aggressive style boxer and I will be in there to mix it up, but it\u2019s going to be in a smart way,\u201d said Algieri. <\/p>\n
\u201cI box but I have never heard anyone say that I was a boring fighter or that they didn\u2019t really like watching my style. I use a lot of the sweet science as they say but that sort of stuff is exciting to watch. I throw a lot of punches. I am an active fighter. <\/p>\n
\u201cAll of my fights have been exciting, even the lopsided ones. I think I go out there and fight in the manner that works best for me getting a win and it just so happens that it\u2019s good to watch,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Pacquiao vs. Algieri is live on BoxNation (Sky 437\/490HD, Virgin 546, TalkTalk 525) this Saturday night. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.<\/p>\n
-Ends-<\/p>\n
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