By Bart Barry-

Saturday brought yet another delightful multihour multiplatform celebration of a sport even weekly columnists feared might die four years ago (Pacquiao-Algieri, for bottomwatchers). The World Boxing Super Series delivered another pair of quarterfinal matches on DAZN, late afternoon, and ESPN+ presented an entertaining if not historic scrap from El Paso a few hours later. Our wonderful recrudescence continues Saturday with the return of Oleksandr Usyk on DAZN, in a match to ensure he is recognized as 2018’s best fighter.

Going last to first Mexican super featherweight Miguel Berchelt diswilled Mexican Miguel Roman in a Texas beating brutal as promised. Scottish super lightweight Josh Taylor denuded American Ryan Martin in Scotland. Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire benefited from an uncommon bit of bad luck when Northern Ireland’s Ryan Burnett lost his bantamweight title via searing backache.

One of the German philosophers, must’ve been Nietzsche, posited sympathy was the worst emotion because it required its possessor be unseemly superior to its object; a person may feel many emotions towards a person of circumstances superior to his own but sympathy be not one of them. One keeps such a teaching behind his lifelong thoughts after he reads it and especially as he watches prizefighting and especially especially as he watches prizefighting to write about prizefighting. Beatings, hundreds to thousands of them, he witnesses without perching himself highly enough to sympathize with the vanquished because, frankly, why should he? Even the loser of a prizefight has engaged in a display of public courage.

Still, Saturday brought a genuine and weird tingling of sympathy for Ryan Burnett. To see a fighter so dramatically reduced so rapidly through no decipherable fault of his own was unpleasant. So freakishly, too. One sees injured hands, eyes and noses enough to be immune their happenings. Where brittle hands are tragic they’re also to prizefighting what height is to a professional basketball player – sure, theoretically, you could make it to the NBA at 5-foot-9, but it is unlikely your destiny.

But to see a 26-year-old championship prizefighter slip a disk while throwing a cross?

Yet there was Burnett after 10 minutes of movement both mechanically correct and innovative suddenly near paralyzed across half his body. Donaire, having done nothing to cause the injury, had no choice but to exploit his opponent’s weakness unto unconsciousness if possible. Burnett didn’t allow that but neither was he allowed out his corner for round 5 and not too long – though excruciatingly – after that he was wheeled out the arena, unable to make the walk. One winces at thoughts of Burnett’s next week ambling about his house.

Weird and deep as went the pang of sympathy for Burnett, one suspects there was selfishness in the brew. The opening three rounds of Donaire-Burnett were fantastic compelling. Donaire was outclassed but giving an excellent account of himself, and Burnett was beginning to invent and transcend, hitting Donaire disrespectfully and unusually for a fighter his size.

Remember, the last time any aficionado saw Donaire at 118 pounds he was electrocuting Fernando Montiel and unilateraling Omar Narvaez; nobody at that weight who stood and swapped with Donaire did so without fear he’d be Darchinyan’d. Burnett did so fearlessly and creatively. Donaire’s seven years and 15 fights (11-4, 6 KOs) removed from his best bantamweight days, of course, but during lots of exchanges Saturday he was similar enough to prime Nonito – Victor Conte affiliate, future VADA posterboy – to make Burnett look awesome to trained eyes.

No one looked better in a mainevent Saturday than Burnett did those opening 10 minutes against Donaire. The creative way he used the lefthook to corral Donaire into a right uppercut, throwing the 3 as a wide lead, and the way he chalked Donaire with the cross. Then came the cross that felled Burnett, and if you didn’t immediately think “pre-existing condition” you’ve not spent sufficient time round boxers or Democrats. It’s the only sensible explanation that burst over the synapses: Burnett did some sort of campy crosstraining something, whether sledgehammering a tire or pulling a tractor, that made him unright a month out. But with massages, painkillers and pilates, hopes were high things’d hold up. And they did, too, enough for Burnett to move not-gingerly until the moment he was unable to move.

All that is merest speculation but more believable, anyway, than a fighter’s 10,000th thrown punch disconnecting his back from itself.

It was in the shadow of this climactic anticlimax Josh Taylor outclassed Ryan Martin. Readers are duly admonished to suspend judgement on Taylor, as he did nothing more than exactly what he was supposed to do Saturday and in unremarkable fashion. Oh, but his footwork is bewitching!

If that’s true it will manifest itself quickly enough in a tournament designed to reveal character. See, there’s no longer any need to be early on these things. There’s no longer a need to squint at the screen in the hopes of being the only one to see how special a fighter is before he’s proved it, lest he never have the chance to prove it. The WBSS proves it. If your guy is a great fighter he’ll win his season of the WBSS, and in so doing will justify for at least a halfyear your belief in him by being recognized as the world’s best in his weightclass.

Tournament boxing eliminates the matchmaking (cherrypicking) that brought so much misplaced anxiety and argument to Money May’s era and GGG’s middleweight reign. HBO’s gone now, too, so there’s no need to rehash the banal hypothetical hash that became the network’s lowly specialty once Larry Merchant left: Our middleweight champion just poleaxed a welterweight, which proves if he were to campaign at super middleweight he’d have no trouble dominating there, either.

That brings us to Saturday’s third mainevent and a commentary like: Blessed be Timothy Bradley among all ESPN mainevent commentators (Brian “Bomac” McIntyre is fantastic, too, but he does undercards) for realizing our beloved sport is moved on from HBO so there’s no reason to audition for Max Kellerman’s seat, there’s no need to interrupt insights about the present with cliched musings about fighters’ pasts, there’s no need to reargue and reheat and recycle whatever tiny detail your cohosts didn’t buy fully enough, there’s no need to unearth the human condition with every single punch.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

HBO’s hit late-night boxing franchise visits Omaha, Neb. for the second time in less than six months to present an all-action doubleheader of world title bouts when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: TERENCE CRAWFORD VS. RAY BELTRAN AND EVGENY GRADOVICH VS. JAYSON VELEZ is seen SATURDAY, NOV. 29 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from CenturyLink Center, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: Nov. 30 (8:15 a.m.) and Dec. 1 (12:15 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Nov. 30 (5:45 p.m.) and Dec. 2 (12:15 a.m.)

Last June in Omaha, lightweight titleholder Terence Crawford (24-0, 17 KOs) made his long-awaited hometown debut on HBO, scoring a spectacular comeback KO victory over the previously undefeated Cuban star Yuriorkis Gamboa. The 27-year-old has fast-tracked through the 135-pound division, scoring three victories on HBO last year and adding a world title belt in March 2013.

Ray Beltran (29-6-1, 17 KOs) of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico is a formidable opponent on a five-fight winning streak. No stranger to the spotlight, the 33-year-old fought on the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Jr. undercard last April, winning a 12-round unanimous decision over Arash Usmanee.

The night from Omaha opens with two undefeated fighters hoping to become breakout stars when Evgeny Gradovich (19-0, 9 KOs) of Russia and Jayson Velez (22-0, 16 KOs) of Puerto Rico clash in a 12-round featherweight title fight. Making his fourth title defense, the 28-year-old Gradovich has shown a willingness to meet anyone, anywhere, having fought three times in Macau, China. Like Gradovich, the 26-year-old Velez has a fan-friendly style that should make for a compelling encounter.

The telecast begins with a replay of the Manny Pacquiao-Chris Algieri welterweight title fight from Macau that featured a dominant performance from Pacquiao in his 17th HBO Pay-Per-View event.

Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.
All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.

The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; director, Johnathan Evans.

By Bart Barry–

FORT WORTH, Texas – The understated perfection of architect Louis I. Kahn’s soft marble masterpiece, Kimbell Art Museum, known round the world as The Kimbell, is so palpable one cannot fathom hoarding its charms, if architectural charms were somehow hoardable, and feels a compulsion to share. Long a fan of friend and mentor Thomas Hauser’s accounts of meals enjoyed between his mother and sundry boxing personalities, I thought to have my own mother, with whom I shared The Kimbell’s charms Saturday, participate in this column in a sort of “Watching Pacquiao-Algieri with Mom” bent. I am evidently incapable with coordinating as this piece shall prove itself with the third-person.

Saturday Manny Pacquiao made an inspired sparring session in gray Macao or Macau, in the same country, China, whose capital is either Peking or Beijing, with Long Island junior welterweight Chris Algieri, a match Pacquiao won by a football-like points spread, dropping Algieri numerous times upon his metalblue trunks and allowing Algieri a chance to win the fight not once. Even before receipts are counted this event should be called plainly what it was for its hundreds of thousands of viewers: a failure.

But I was sound asleep by the time Manny Pacquiao began his long-awaited ringwalk through the cheering throngs of Cotai Arena. My laptop, whose volume I muted for the third undercard scrap, due mostly to my bottomless indifference for the future of Chinese boxing under Freddie Roach’s tutelage, flashed what high-definition images TopRank.tv sent its way, I do not doubt, as my mom, sporadically awake through the main event, later confirmed, in a faux if empathetic enthusiasm for her son’s favorite sport, “Pacquiao won!” But I saw none of it. I do not recall so much as stirring from my hardwon slumber, despite a Friday payment of $59 to Top Rank, to see the event for which I’d paid such a stipend because, truth be told, I paid that stipend for little but plausible deniability to you, dear reader, when I was unable to write intelligibly of the last meaningful fight of 2014, this, the most meaningless year of boxing I’ve yet covered.

And I will not cover three such years in-a-row.

Sometime after midnight, when I awoke to a shinyblue announcement from TopRank.tv my event had ended, I panicked for all of a second. Then my fright subsided, as I realized a column about not-watching Pacquiao-Algieri, at this point, likely would be more entertaining than watching Pacquiao-Algieri proved. Once panic subsided, again instantly since little written about this sport, anymore, would be consequential if you were paying to read it – which, coincidentally, you are not – I found a videostream on YouTube of a guy recording on his cell camera the very same TopRank.tv feed I purchased and used to remedy my hypothetical insomnia, as well as the hypothetical insomnia of my hypothetical children and their hypothetical children and so on for three generations more (if Twitter accounts of Pacquiao-Algieri are believed), and that stream, grainy and skipping, showed me what needed showing, which was very much not much at all.

Mark me down with the other naifs who believed Algieri might have a solution for Pacquiao, long and skittish as Algieri was, able with leftward wheeling as he was, and was a little surprised the Long Islander won nary an exchange, while losing quite a few rounds by more than his gentlemanly one point. Nothing about big-league kickboxing, as it turned out, prepared Algieri for big-league boxing, and what disparate rhythms and sophisticated traps a man of Pacquiao’s extraordinary experience and accomplishments might access in milliseconds in any ringside emergency – nothing of whose sort Algieri managed to create.

Disrupted. That was how Algieri looked on a video stream just as disrupted by whatever guerilla band succeeded several times in hijacking the internet server in whichever agrarian wasteland my anonymous YouTube postfight broadcaster uploaded his stream from; watching a master prizefighter like Juan Manuel Marquez time and occasionally neutralize Pacquiao, watching a fantastic athlete like Timothy Bradley survive Pacquiao’s onslaught after being rendered stationary, both, likely convinced Chris Algieri, who, in a nod to his entire generation thus far, has a greater competence for self-belief than another activity, his athleticism, for being greater than Marquez’s, and his boxing acumen, for being greater than Bradley’s, would help him jigsaw a puzzle Pacquiao couldn’t possibly piece together.

But Algieri and his witling chief second both had it all wrong, as we all now know. Pacquiao, even at this advanced stage of his career, is still a better athlete than Bradley; Pacquiao, even when reduced to savagery, is still nearly good a technician as Marquez (even if his tactics are not transferable or teachable as the Mexican’s). Algieri is not nearly the athlete Bradley is, and no better of a technician, and Algieri is not nearly the technician Marquez is, and no better of an athlete. Algieri is a C+ prizefighter who found a perfect stylistic mesh with Ruslan Provodnikov, a Siberian with A+ power and C- everything else, finagled it to a million-dollar payday and now will recede into supporting roles on HBO and then Showtime and eventually ESPN, however much sorrowful howling or barking or squeaking Algieri’s beloved fellow Stony Brook Seawolves make when they experience their grief at losing a smug nutritionist from the pack.

Oh, what could have been is not, and meanwhile, and frankly, who cares if Pacquiao ever does fight Floyd Mayweather? Regardless how good a match the men subsequently make now, it will serve mostly as a reminder how very much was squandered by all parties in the five-year hellbroth boxing’s powerbrokers began brewing of our beloved sport in the moments that followed Pacquiao’s 2009 stoppage of Miguel Cotto. Lots can change in five years, anyway, and let me provide further proof:

In 2009, like many another boxing writer, I might have reached for the easily grasped and metaphorical cliche of Pacquiao-Algieri putting me to sleep. But it’s now 2014, and my commitment to journalism is deepened. I am a participatory journalist, in the spirit of George Plimpton or Hunter S. Thompson, and Saturday night, as it pertains to the dull affair of Pacquiao-Algieri at least, I went full-gonzo.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

HBO Sports presents MANNY PACQUIAO VS. CHRIS ALGIERI, the replay of their high stakes world welterweight title fight, SATURDAY, NOV. 29 at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO. The HBO Sports broadcast team, which was ringside at the Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena in Macau, China, calls all the action. The telecast will be available in HDTV.
The highly anticipated and intriguing title showdown was carried live Saturday, Nov. 22 on HBO Pay-Per-View.®
The bout featured a worldwide icon in his 17th HBO Pay-Per-View event meeting the challenge of a fast-rising and determined underdog looking to defy the odds.
Paired with the replay will be the live HBO BOXING AFTER DARK® doubleheader from Omaha, NE with lightweight title-holder Terence Crawford headlining the Thanksgiving weekend card in his hometown versus challenger Ray Beltran.
Other HBO playdates: Nov. 30 (8:30 a.m.) and Dec. 1 (12:15 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Nov. 30 (5:00 p.m.) and Dec. 2 (12:15 p .m.)
® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

Follow all the action live from Ringside as Manny Pacquiao defends the WBO Welterweight title against undefeated WBO Jr. Welterweight champion Chris Algieri. The show begins at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT / 10 AM in Macau with a three fight undercard that will feature two world title bouts. Jessie Vargas defends the WBA Super Lightweight title against Antonio DeMarco. Vasyl Lomachenko defends the WBO Featherweight title against Chanlatarn Piriyapinyo. Zou Shiming takes on Kwanpichit OnesongchaiGym.

12 ROUNDS–WBO WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP–MANNY PACQUIAO 56-5-2, 38 KO’S) VS CHRIS ALGIERI (20-0, 8 KO’S)

Round 1 Pacquiao lands a couple of body shots and Algieri moves around the ring…10-9 Pacquiao

Round 2 STRAIGHT LEFT AND DOWN GOES ALGIERI..Algieri lands a right..Pacquial lands a left…20=17 Pacquizo

Round 3 Algier lands a right..Straight left from Pacquiao..good combo finished off by a right hook..body/head combo..30-26 Pacquiao

Round 4 Pacquiao beginning to get inside and land quick and effective combinations..40-35 Pacquiao

Round 5 Leadping left from Pacquiao..50–44 Pacquiao

Round 6 PACQUIAO SCORES KNOCKDOWNS WITH LEFt HAND and the 2nd a right hook to head..60-51 Pacquiao

Round 7 Pacquiao landing quick combinations…Algieri lands a left to the body…70-60 Pacquiao

Round 8 Pacquiao controlling the fight..Algieri gets in an occasional jab…80-69 Pacquiao

Round 9 HUGE LEFT AND DOWN GOES ALGIERI…HES HURT…PACQUIAO ALL OVER ALGIER…HE TAKES A KNEE…Pacquio looking for the finish but the bell rings..90-76 Pacquiao

Round 10 LEFT UPPERCUT AND DOWN GOES ALGIERI...100-84

Round 11 Pacquiao dominating and lands a hard left and right...110-93 Pacquiao

Round 12

119-103, 119-103 and 120-102 for Pacquiao

12 ROUNDS–FLYWEIGHTS–ZOU SHIMING (5-0 1 KO) VS KWANPICHIT ONESONGCHAIGYM (27-0-2, 12 KO”S)

Round 1 Shiming lands 1-2..10-9 Shiming

Round 2 Big flurry from Shiming…BIG LEFT HOOK AND DOWN GOES KO..BIG RIGHT AND DOWN GOES KP..Huge flurry on the ropes at the bell...20-16 Shiming

Round 3 Shiming contuing to land combinations..30-25 Shiming

Round 4 KO lands body/head combo..Terrific two way action,,39-35 Shiming

Round 5 Sneaky right from Shiming..Right buckles KO..2 hard rights...49-44 Shiming

Round 6 KO deducted a point for a low blow..COMBINATION AND A SLIP BUT RULED A KNOCKDOWN FOR SHIMING..Combination to head and hard right from Shiming..59-51 Shiming

Round 7 Shiming jumps in with a right…69-60 Shiming

Round 8 KO lands a right..Left from Shiming…right..straight right..Shiming left eye cut and swelling…combination..79-69

Round 9 Shiming boxing and moving…89-78 Shiming

Round 10 Shiming bleeding bad from left eye…KO tags with a hard right that sets off a furious exchange..uppercut from Shiming..right from KO..98-88 Shiming

Round 11 Shiming jumping in with thw right..KO chasing Shiming around the ring..108-97 Shiming

Round 12 Right from Shiming…The get tanGLED UP BUT RULED A KNOCKDOWN FOR SHIMING…118-105 SHIMING

119-106, 119-106, 120-103…ZOU SHIMING

12 Rounds WBO FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE–VASYL LOMACHENKO (2-1, 1 KO) VS CHONLATARN PIRIYAPINYO (51-1, 33 KOS’S)

Round 1 CP lands a right…Lomachenko lands a left to the body..1-2..hard left to the body..boy comboo..10-9 Lomachenko

Round 2 Lomachenko boxing…20-18 Lomachenko

Round 3 Good combinaton on ropes from Lomachenko..hard 3 punch combo…30-27 Lomachenko

Round 4 Right from CP…Lomachenko lands a left to the body..hard right hook..HUGE COMBINATION,,,BIG LEFT AND DOWN GOES CP…40-35 Lomachenko

Round 5 Big counter left from Lomachenko..step around left..50-44 Lomachenko

Round 6Hard combination on ropes..60-53 Lomachenko

Round 7 Good counter right from CP..Hard jab and follow up right from Lomachaneko..70-62 Lomachneko

Round 8 80-72 Lomachenko

Round 9 Lomachenko jabbing..90-81 Lomachenko

Round 10 Uppercut from Lomachenko…Body shot..left..Body shot from CP..right...100-90 Lomachenko

Round 11 Hard left uppercut from Lomachenko..110-99 Lomachenko

Round 12 Lomachenlo landing combo on the ropes..120-109

120-107 on all cards for Lomachenko

12 ROUNDS–WBA SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE–JESSIE VARGAS (25-0, 9 KO’S) VS ANTOINO DEMARCO (31-3-1, 23 KO’S)

ROUND 1 Straight left from DeMarco…Jab from Vargas..10-9 DeMarco

Round 2 Vargas lands a right…Vargas cut under left eye…19-19

Round 3 Vargas lands a counter right…right..counter right..DeMarco lands a right hook..right to the body..Straight right to body from Demarco..left uppercut…29-28 Vargas

Round 4 Counter left from Vargas..quick right..right to body..combo to head..left to body..hard counter right..right to body…39-37 Vargas

Round 5 2hqrd rights from Vargas..Vragas lands a combo on the ropes..lead right..49-46 Vargas

Round 6 Quick combo from Vargas.right to body..1-2..Combo from DeMarco..counter left from Vargas..59-55 Vargas

Round 7 Right to bidy from DeMarco..1-2…DeMarco bleeding around the right eye..Good exchange..Vargas working body…68-65 Vargas

Round 8 Jab from Vargas..Left from Deamrco..right from Vargas on the ropes..Body shot..3 punch combo..Straight left from DeMarco..left…Hard combo from Vargas….78-74 Vargas

Round 9 Right from Vargas…Hard left from DeMarco rocks Vargas into the corner..Great toe to toe action..hard 1-2 from Demarco..2 good uppercuts..hard left hook from Vargas...87-84 Vargas

Round 10 Left rocks Vargas..right from Vargas..right to body..uppercut from DeMarco..combo from Vargas…97-93 Vargas

Round 11 Jab from Vargas…counter right..107-102 Vargas

Round 12 Jab from Vargas..straight right..4 punch combo..117-111

116-112 on all cards for Vargas

MACAO, CHINA (NOVEMBER 23, 2014)–Manny Pacquiao dominated Chris Algieri by knocking him down 6 times en-route to a 12-round unanimous decision at the Cotai Arena inside Venetian Hotel and Casino.

Pacquiao looked quick and powerful and was able to catch up Algieri whose strategy was to move and jab at a great distance and use his nearly five inch height advantage. Algieri was dropped from a straight left in round two. Pacquiao began to land hard shots on the inside as early as round four and he cut the distance on Algieri. Pacquiao scored two knockdowns in round six as he landed a perfect that sent the previously undefeated WBO Jr. Welterweight champ to the canvas. Pacquiao continued to onslaught the challenger as he sent him down one more time in the round.

The second half of the fight was not much better for the native of Huntington, Long Island as he ate a perfectly placed left that deposited him hard on the canvas. Algieri looked in serious distress and Pacquiao jumped on him to score a 2nd knockdown from a hard flurry of punches. Pacquiao was looking to end the bout but the bell rang to save Algieri. Pacquiao put a stamp on the fight when he was sent to the deck for a 6th and final time from a hard uppercut in round ten.

Pacquiao, 143.8 lbs of the Philippines won by scored of 120-102 and 119-103 twice and he is now 57-6-2. Algieri, 136.6 lbs is now 20-1.

Chinese hero Zou Shiming scored an exciting yet lopsided 12-round unanimous decision over Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym in a Flyweight bout.

Shiming got off to a blazing start as he dropped Onesongchaigym twice in round two. The first from a left hook and the second from a perfect right to the chin. The two continued to land hard shots but Shiming had more options as he boxed and used his feet. In round six, Shiming was credited with a knockdown on what looked like a slip from the Pacquiao look-a-like. earlier in the round, Onesongchaigym was deducted a point from a debatable low blow.

In round eye, Shiming;s left eye began to bleed and close. The cut worsened in round ten, but Shiming who did endure some hard rights to the head was able to fight effectively down the stretch and even be credited with another knockdown in round twelve and he went to the victory by way of 119-106 twice and 120-103.

Shiming, 112 lbs of China is now 6-0. Onesongchaigym, 112 lbs is now 27-1-2.

Vasyl Lomachenko made the 1st defense of the WBO Featherweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Chonlatarn Piriyapino

Lomachenko dominated from the opening bell and in round four he landed a vicious combination that was capped off by a flush left to the face that sent Piriyapinyo to the canvas. Lomachenko dominated the bout despite injuring his left hand around round seven.

Lomachenko, 126 lbs of Odessa, UKR won by scores of 120-107 and is now 3-1. Piriapinyo, 126 lbs of Chonburi, THA is now 51-2.

Under the tutelage of first-rime trainer, Roy Jones Jr, Jessie Vargas retained the WBA Super Lightweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over former Lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco.

In round two, Vargas was cut under his left eye from a headbutt. In round three, Vargas started to surge ahead by landing some solid lead and counter rights. He also started mixing in body shots.

The action picked up in round seve with both landing good shots in the center of the ring. DeMarco was bleeding around the right eye. In round nine, DeMarco rocked Vargas with a perfect straight left that set off a terrific exchange. Demarco finished off the round landing some hard combinations.

Vargas, 140 lbs of Las Vegas won by scores of 116-112 on all cards and is now 26-0. DeMarco, 139.3 lbs of Los Mochis, MX is now 31-4-1.

Kuok Kun Ng scored a 6-round unanimous decision over Stphen Attard in a fight featuring undefeated Super Welterweights.

In round five, NG was cut in the middle of the forehead from a headbutt.

Scores were 57-56 twice and 59-54 for NG, 153.9 lbs of Macao, CHN and is now 6-0. Attard, 151.1 lbs of Preston, AUS is now 4-1-2.

Rex Tso scored a 8-round unanimous decision over Espinos Sabu in a Super Flyweight bout.

Scores were 79-73 and 78-74 twice for Tso, 114.8 lbs of Hong Kong, CHN and is mow 15-0. Sabu, 115.6 lbs of Manado, IND is now 8-3-1.

Jerwin Ancajas scored a perfect one punch knockout at 1:48 of round three of his scheduled 8-round Super Flyweight bout over Fadhili Majiha.

Ancajas landed a perfect left to the face that sent Majiha down for the ten count.

Ancajas, 115 lbs of the Philippines is 22-1-1 with 14 knockous. Majiha, 114 1/4 lbs is 15-6-4.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

LONDON (Nov 21) – Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao believes that Chris Algieri is the most dangerous opponent of his career.

The all-action Filipino has shared the ring with some of the biggest names in world boxing including the likes of Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto but now faces what he thinks is his trickiest test in the unbeaten Algieri, live on BoxNation this weekend.

A factor in the New Yorker’s favour leading up to the fight has been his notable size advantage and WBO welterweight world champion Pacquiao is of the belief that combined with Algieri’s slick skills it will prove a difficult task when they do battle.

“Chris Algieri poses many puzzles for me to solve. In terms of his height and reach, only Antonio Margarito surpasses him in the scope of opponents I have faced. Algieri is also the most scientific, fluid and fittest fighter I have ever opposed,” said Pacquiao.

“All of those factors, plus he is five years younger than me, make him the most dangerous opponent of my career.

“To me, boxing is a lot like chess. You don’t just move a piece and wait for your opponent to respond, you have to see the board and think 10 to 12 moves ahead and anticipate the variables your opponent may counter with. Algieri does that and he does that very well,” he said.

Prior to this summer the 30-year-old Algieri was unknown amongst the wider boxing community but his unexpected win over WBO light-welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov made everyone sit up and take notice.

Going into the fight he was expected to put up little resistance against his feared opponent but upset the odds by scoring a gallant points victory, his courageous performance something which did not go unnoticed by the great Pacquiao.

“If you look at his recent fights – against Mike Arnaoutis, Emanuel Taylor and Ruslan Provodnikov – each victory for him was considered an upset.

“Yet Algieri never considered himself an underdog, he went into each fight confident and with the right game plan and no matter what happened in the ring, he was disciplined enough to stay with that game plan. And it worked. He outfought them and out-thought them,” said a wary Pacquiao.

“Algieri’s reach and height will require me to work on closing the distance with him in the ring and I will need my speed more than ever to be able to score damaging blows to him while avoiding his own counters.

“I watched him fight Provodnikov and he fought the perfect fight against him. But I do not intend to fight Algieri’s fight. I intend on fighting my fight and more importantly, making him fight my fight,” he said.

Once again the odds are heavily stacked against the former world champion kickboxer Algieri but overcoming adversity is something which he thrives on and puts down to his mental ability.

“My 10th pro bout against Julius Edmonds I went into the fight with a sore right hand and then broke my left hand in the second round. Finding a way to win has always been a major part of my style and strategy,” said Algieri.

“I didn’t even tell my coaches I was injured until after the fight. I finished the fight with a fourth round knockout and that truly was one of the biggest obstacles if not the biggest I have ever had to overcome.

“And let’s not forget my previous fight against Ruslan Provodnikov. I made a mistake in the first round and I paid for it. I was forced to pay the price and fight the remainder of the fight with a badly swollen eye. But, I still found a way to win.

“Sticking to the game plan, and staying focused in times of adversity, that’s what separates me from other fighters. My mental make-up and my mental strength has always been the difference in my fights, and that’s what will propel me to victory against Pacquiao,” he said.

Pacquiao vs. Algieri is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546, TalkTalk 525) this Saturday night. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-

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MACAO, CHINA (November 21, 2014) – FREDDIE ROACH and TIM LANE, trainers for undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight champion CHRIS ALGIERI and Fighter of the Decade Congressman and defending WBO welterweight champion MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO, respectively, hosted an international Media Conference Call on Thursday, from The Venetian Macao. Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs), from Huntington, NY on Long Island, has Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management, a Masters degree in Clinical Nutrition and a Ph.D. in Upsets Inside the Ring. Aspiring, to attend medical school when he concludes his boxing career, Algieri has become sports Horatio Algieri story! All of New York is riveted to its only world champion as he prepares to battle Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative from the Sarangani Province of the Philippines, and boxing’s only eight-division world champion.

TIM LANE

It’s been quite a ride for you and Chris since beating Ruslan Provodnikov and becoming a world champion. What are your feelings headed into Saturday night’s fight?

TIM LANE: Looking forward to this weekend, it’s going to be a great weekend, Chris is in great shape, and yes we are looking forward to bringing that belt back to New York.

Adjusting to time change?

TIM LANE: It’s been great. Chris and I came over here for the world tour and we learned a couple things about what time we were going to fly and what we were going to eat and how we were going to do out workouts and we adjusted perfectly. It took Chris about one day to get on the time zone and it took me about two days. I couldn’t imagine it going any better or for Chris to be in a better spot considering the circumstances we are in right now.

Have there been any surprises during the promotion?

TIM LANE: What sticks out in my mind is how nice and generous people have been to us when it comes to the staff here at The Venetian, both in Las Vegas and Macao, to Top Rank to Star Boxing to Banner Promotions. The people here have been amazing – the respect and the love they have shown. Even the Filipino fans – we go to breakfast every morning and there have been mobs of people from all walks of life have shown so much love and that has surprised me. I thought we were coming to a battle-ground and were going to have to be kind of tough, and I would prefer not to be tough, I would prefer that when the bell rings we would take care of business and that outside of that we can all be human beings. It has been wonderful and that has been surprising to me.

How do you prevent being overwhelmed by the moment?

TIM LANE: Chris has prepared and dreamt about this night for many, many years and he has risen to the occasion of every event that he has been in and the greatest thing about Chris Algieri is the better his competition and the better his opposition, the better he is. He always rises to the occasion. What he did to Ruslan, he did it with one eye. I thought he would have a flawless victory against Ruslan. I did not think Ruslan would be our toughest challenge, but Chris ended up getting hit and hurt in the first round, and when we were offered the Manny Pacquiao fight, I believe that his is not as tough a fight as Ruslan. Styles make fights and Manny Pacquiao, being a lefty and what he brings to the table, I do not feel that to be as challenging as Ruslan. I feel that Chris will dominate Pacquiao more so than he did Ruslan — with two eyes.

You actually think Pacquiao is an easier fight than Provodnikov?

TIM LANE: Maybe not an easier fight, but a more simple fight. It is a simpler game plan for me to get across to Chris but the biggest thing is and people don’t know this, but Chris Algieri started his war in the ring with a lefty. He does better with lefties than he does with righties. I have been able to do certain things that have come out in his style against righties but against lefties, he is a totally different fighter.

Freddie is talking about a first round KO…

TIM LANE: And you know what? If I was in Freddie’s shoes I would be talking a lot too, because he knows what the outcome of the fight is going to be and he’s got to blow a bunch of smoke and I feel for them. I love Manny Pacquiao but he’s not beating Chris and I think Freddie is aware of that and that’s why he’s barking.

How is Pacquiao different than other lefties?

TIM LANE: Chris gained good experience in sparring with Zab Judah because he is very fast and arguably the best three or four round fighters ever in the world. You see what he did with Floyd Mayweather in the first four rounds. It’s all getting used to guys coming at you from that angle, but there’s no one out there that does it the way that Manny does it with his footwork and angles before he throws, but footwork and angles work when you are hitting a heavy bag and it looks really, really good and really, really fast and when you have zombies in front of you that don’t have footwork…you have a guy like Manny Pacquiao that looks amazing and you have a guy with footwork and is not there, those punches end up hitting air and missing and it ends up confusing him, so Manny’s footwork and his speed and his angles look good but Chris won’t be there and it’s going to be confusing for him.

What opponents of Pacquiao’s do you consider zombies (laughing)?

TIM LANE: I don’t want to disrespect anyone and say names but they were opponents that were big guys, or bigger than him, or who thought were bigger than him, that had no footwork. They were tough guys. The majority of the people in the boxing game are tough guys, because they are tough and they have come a long way, but they are the guys that don’t have footwork and stand in the middle of the ring and say ‘come on I am mucho macho.’ You can’t beat Manny Pacquiao like that. So yes, it’s the guys with no footwork.

Chris made a comparison to Margarito, who’s is about the same size as Chris, would that be a correct comparison?

TIM LANE: Good guess bro. Yes, Margarito is the guys who says, ‘come here in the middle of the ring and let’s trade, I’m tough, yeah, that’s the guy.’

Will Algieri be the ghost?

TIM LANE: Pretty much. He is going to be a master boxer. He is on top of his game. He is sharper than ever. He truly believes that this is The Chris Algieri Show, and so does his team. It’s going to be everything that should be great about boxing.

Do you foresee any surprises in the ring?

TIM LANE: I don’t know. There are a million things that could go on. I didn’t foresee Chris’ eye closing in his last fight. I don’t think about so many different variables because there are a million things to think about. I pretty much set my team up so that we can deal with anything. We have prepared Chris for any style that Manny brings. I have brought on the best cut man in the game. Whatever happens we are prepared for and anything could happen. I don’t itemize this and this and this because I would be going crazy thinking about it.

Could anything have been done better for the eye in the Provodnikov fight?

TIM LANE: I don’t know. Maybe it could have been done a little bit better but I had to make a decision that, we are coming to China, I need someone that travels well, I need someone that can deal with anything in another country. Stitch has been a good friend of mine for a long time, so when we made the fight I called him up and we had lunch and discussed a couple of things and I decided to go with him. Stitch brings a lot to the table other than being just a good cut man. He is a very vibrant human being that brings a lot of positivity to the table. I knew he would go well with the camp. I asked him if he could be in our camp every day he was in town to help wrap Chris and be part of the family and he has been just what I thought he would be as an addition to team Algieri.

This is the first time Chris has been able to train full time and not having his other jobs…

TIM LANE: The difference is he has been able to do his job. Get his rest. He and I have been able to go over his sparring and spend some good time together outside of training. Normally it’s like we train then he has to train somebody else and travel to another gym – he has to go here he has to go there. In this camp I would drive from my home in Las Vegas to The Venetian at 7 a.m. then I would stay there all day with him. We didn’t have to leave the building. Then I would go home at night. Then repeat. And on Sunday he would send me a shopping list and I would go get his food. It’s been great.

In closing…

TIM LANE: Tune in on November 22nd. Chris Algieri, the new era of boxing, is going to show you who he is. Welcome to The Chris Algieri Show.

FREDDIE ROACH

How was it training in the Philippines?

FREDDIE ROACH: It went really well. We had a great camp. Manny really buckled down the whole training camp and we are really ready for this fight.

Manny has mentioned this camp has been like old times…

FREDDIE ROACH: We brought back a lot of the old workout routines and with Justin Fortune, his old strength coach, being back on board. We went to the heavy bag a lot with really hard work. Not too much mitts where it is flashier – we got more strength. We wanted to get that fire back and start knocking people out again. It’s an old school approach. We did a lot of strength work, and heavy bag work and he is punching better than ever. He’s coming to a weight that is better for him – instead of fighting at 147 he’s fighting at 144. We are going to have our first knockout in a while.

Is there any remote chance he couldn’t get up for this fight?

FREDDIE ROACH: No not at all. He feels pressure from the public. He hasn’t knocked out anyone lately and he wants to get that fire back and he wants a knockout. It’s the first time he has ever told me that the old Manny will knock this guy out. He feels the pressure from the public that he hasn’t knocked anyone out in a while and at 144 the punch is coming back.

What does Algieri do well?

FREDDIE ROACH: He runs very well. He will run from Manny and he will have to cut the ring off and set traps. He will have to chase him down, but we will catch him.

Have the sparring partners emulated his style, as Algieri would fight?

FREDDIE ROACH: I think Postol does the best; he is a guy with a very good jab. And once he established that jab and gets going he is very difficult to deal with so he was the best sparring partner style-wise. But everyone worked out well. Mike Jones worked well for strength, if this guy wants to come at us; he took it to Manny a little bit. So whatever this guy brings to the table we are ready for.

What round is this going to end in?

FREDDIE ROACH: About three.

Is Mayweather on anyone’s mind?

FREDDIE ROACH: Sometime I tell Manny you don’t want to beat up Algieri too bad because then Mayweather is just going to run a little bit more. He is scared of us know and he is going to be more scared after we destroy this guy. But Mayweather may show some balls and step up to the plate.

Are you worried he will look too good and scare Mayweather away?

FREDDIE ROACH: Definitely. For sure.

FREDDIE ROACH: I was with Manny for seven weeks and Justin was there two weeks prior to that. Ten weeks all together. His strength and power is really there. Five, six, seven rounds a day on the heavy bag. We have been together a long time and things were getting too repetitive, so we went old school. Hard work and he responded greatly.

FREDDIE ROACH: Algieri thinks he is going to be the faster guy in there – he is going to be overwhelmed by Manny’s speed. You can’t judge Manny’s speed by watching him on TV. Once he gets in the ring, he’ll be shocked. That’s why this guy isn’t going to last more than three rounds.

Manny has not put guys away recently – do you think he will listen to you this time?

FREDDIE ROACH: I do – he knows that sportswriters and the public have questioned his power and lost his punch and so-forth. He is aware of that and not going to let this one slip by. Explosion and power is much better. I need a thicker body suit. I think it is the speed. The speed and power together means knockout and that’s what he has always done. At 147 he was fighting guys going into the ring at 160 who are more durable. He is going in at 144 and he will be faster. Next fight will be at 140 and I think he is a more natural 140 than 147.

Do you or Manny feel pressure for a KO?

FREDDIE ROACH: I don’t think it is pressure I think it is something that Manny wants. We know he can’t go out there looking for a knockout – you have to set it up and let it happen. With his speed and power and the way he is punching I believe it will happen. We are not just going out there looking to just get an early KO. We will set it up and it will be ready by design. Not by luck.

Will you be satisfied with a decision win?

FREDDIE ROACH: I am absolutely expecting a KO. He fought Ruslan Provodnikov who is a young fighter and Manny is an eight-division world champion. He is in way over his head.

FREDDIE ROACH: I want a great performance, but I want the Mayweather fight to happen, so maybe we will let it last a couple more rounds.

Does Manny talk about Floyd during training camp?

FREDDIE ROACH: We do talk about Floyd. The more time that goes by the more he talks about it. He wants the fight badly and after watching Floyd’s last couple fights he wants it even more. He wants to prove that he is the best fighter in the world and he will take that zero and give him his first one.

With a win, do you think Manny could be Fighter of the Year? It would be his second victory or the year over an undefeated world champion.

FREDDIE ROACH: I think we would need better opponents. When Manny knocks out Mayweather, he will get Fighter of the Year.

You have said you don’t think the Mayweather fight will happen…

FREDDIE ROACH: It’s been 3½ years that we have been waiting for this fight and I like challenges. He is a challenge and a good fighter but I am just so tired of people asking me if the fight is going to happen because I can’t give them a real true answer because this guy keeps running away, running away and running away. If he is the best fighter in the world, step up to the plate.

You have three fights on the PPV card. It’s going to be a busy night for you

FREDDIE ROACH: I have two great helpers and the staff works really hard. It’s a busy night – no doubt about that. Just wrapping hands will keep me really busy. My guy will be warming up Manny while the Shiming fight is going on then when it is over, I will go to the dressing room and do final warm-up with Manny. It’s part of being busy. It makes me work hard and I’ve lost about eight pounds – I was getting a little chubby – I like working and I like what I do.

What do you think about the undercard?

FREDDIE ROACH: DeMarco may steal the show. People think he’s washed up but he’s not, he punches real strong and he’s going up against a very good opponent who hasn’t looked really good in his last couple fights. People thought he may have lost those fights and got gifts but Christmas is not coming early this time, DeMarco is coming to knock you out. Shiming is fighting a guy with a great record but he’s not very well known because he is a Thai fighter, but he is a Manny Pacquiao look-a-like, but I doubt he can fight like Pacquiao and I am looking for Shiming to make a statement in this fight and get the title fight afterwards.

How was DeMarco’s camp, was it tough knowing his sister has cancer at home?

FREDDIE ROACH: We had some tough days. He would start thinking about that and almost cry. He cares about his sister and family a lot and it was very hard for him to be so far away in the Philippines and not being able to care for her and I told him that the best way to care for her is to win this fight to get her life back. I think we turned it into a positive thing and De Marco is in great shape and punching really hard and I expect big things about DeMarco.

Thought on Roy Jones the trainer?

FREDDIE ROACH: He was a great fighter, maybe he will retire soon, which I think he should and get into training and share his knowledge with the rest of the world. He was a great fighter and should be a great trainer and he knows the game and it will be a great competition no doubt about that.

Do you have advice for Jones for his training career?

FREDDIE ROACH: He knows if you work hard then good things happen. Teach them what you know. He was a very slick fighter and to have a guy like that in your corner can’t hurt. A guy like Jones is so talented they expect you to pick up things real quick but he’s got to be patient because no one was as good as he was. He can’t expect fighters to do what he wants right away. Take your time and they will learn it but not as fast as maybe you did.

What punch do you see Manny ending this fight with?

FREDDIE ROACH: His left hand. He knocked me down with it in training and I did a somersault.

How long do you foresee Manny fighting at a high level?

FREDDIE ROACH: As long as he is training like he is I don’t see an end yet. His dedication and desire to work is really unbelievable. He trains harder than any fighter I have ever known. As long s he keeps that up it is endless at this point. He stays in great shape and he trains really hard and I think this may have been the best training camp ever. His desire and focus has been really good for this training camp.

What do you think of Danny Garcia as an alternative to Mayweather?

FREDDIE ROACH: Garcia is a tough guy and one thing about Garcia is he will throw. He is a heavy puncher. He knocked out Amir Kahn. I think he is a very good opponent for Manny Pacquiao. I think Manny would box a little more and not exchange as much. It’s a fight I would like to see and a fight the fans would love to see and that’s what we want to give the people – good fights.

If Manny and Cotto both fight in the spring, will you do a joint camp?

FREDDIE ROACH: No I don’t think we are going to do a joint training camp. I need to keep those guys separate at Wild Card. They both deserve individual time. I just spoke to Cotto last night and he said December 7 he will be in my gym to get a head start on what we look forward to. Manny’s next fight will not be in China, it will be in the United States from what we see and that means training camp will be at the Wild Card. They both will be training at my gym in LA, but they will not be training together. It will be two totally separate training camps. We have done that before.

Would you want Cotto to stay at 160 or move down?

FREDDIE ROACH: There is great competition at 160. The fight we hope would be coming up is Alvarez and if he wins that fight Triple G is out there. Everybody is talking about he’s got nobody to fight. I think Miguel Cotto will kick his ass. I think he can outbox that guy. I don’t think he is unbeatable. He is a good fighter I know, but we love challenges and that’s a great challenge for us at 160.

*******************************

Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Banner Promotions and Tecate, the Pacquiao-Algieri world welterweight championship event will take place This Saturday! November 22, at The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena, and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #PacAlgieri to jo
…

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

By Norm Frauenheim–

Chris Algieri has had tougher fights than Manny Pacquaio, Algieri trainer Tim Lane said Thursday before Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said the Filipino would score a a knockout within three rounds.

From opposite corners, the trainers had widely — wildly too — different views on how things will play out in a 144-pound bout scheduled for midday Sunday in the Chinese gambling mecca of Macao and Saturday night (9
pm EST/6 pm PST) on HBO pay-per-view.

If Lane is right, it’ll be the biggest boxing upset in Asia since Buster Douglas’ 1990 knockout of Mike Tyson in Tokyo. If Roach is right, it’ll be a quick end to what would be Pacquiao’s quickest finish since a third-round stoppage of Erik Morales in 2006 and his first stoppage of any kind since a 12th-round TKO of Miguel Cotto in 2009.

In a conference call from China, there wasn’t much agreement, other than the respective degrees of difficulty. Neither corner is expecting it to be too tough. That wasn’t a surprise from Roach, who all along and in so many ways has been saying that Algieri is overmatched. But it was a surprise from Lane.

Pacquiao is Algieri’s greatest opportunity. But, Lane said in a matter-of-fact tone, Ruslan Provodnikov was a tougher fight.

“What he did to Ruslan, he did with one eye,” Lane said of a June 14 bout in which Algieri got up from two first-round knockdowns and fought with his left eye swollen shut for a stunning split decision over the favored Russian. “I thought he would have a flawless victory against Ruslan. I did not find that to be our toughest challenge. But he wound up getting hurt in the first round. When we were offered the Manny Pacquiao fight, I believed that this was not as tough a fight as Ruslan. Styles make fights. Manny Pacquaio, being a lefty and what he brings to the table, I do not find that to be as challenging as it was with Ruslan.

“So, I believe Chris will dominate Pacquiao more so than he did Ruslan. With two eyes.”

Safe to say, Lane’s bold comment was an eye-opener.

Algieri is at least an 8-to-1 underdog. That’s not quite the 42-to-1 underdog Douglas was nearly a quarter of a century ago. Nevertheless, it still means that Algieri’s chances are thought to be somewhere between slim and none.

“I’m absolutely expecting a KO,” Roach said. “He’s in way over his head.”

Algieri has advantages in height and reach. His educated footwork, Lane said, will allow him to elude Pacquiao’s power, which he launches from countless angles. But Roach said that Algieri has never encountered Pacquiao’s kind of speed.

“Once he gets in the ring, he’ll be shocked,” Roach said. “That’s why it won’t last more than three rounds.”

Pacquiao has beaten fighters bigger than he is. But Lane called them “zombies.” They were tough guys who didn’t know how use their feet in the subtle dance that takes thinking fighters out of harm’s way, Lane said. When asked if would he identify some of the zombies, Lane declined. Then, he was asked if he was talking abut Antonio Margarito, who was bigger than Pacquiao, yet lost a bruising unanimous decision to the Filipino four years ago at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

“Yeah, that’s the guy,” Lane said.

Roach’s confidence in an early KO is rooted in what he saw and felt in training. Pacquiao worked harder than he has in years on the heavy bag, Roach said. Renewed energy and power were so evident in sparring that Roach said that he jokingly warned Pacquiao not to stop Algieri too quickly. Talk about a Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather showdown has been re-ignited in the build-up for the Algieri fight. If Pacquiao scores a quick and impressive KO, would Mayweather back away from the rumored possibility?

“Definitely, definitely,” Roach said.

No matter what’s next, however, Pacquaio might not be able to contain his power. Roach said the Filipino knocked him down with a left hand in training.

“Hit me in the chest,” Roach said.

The power, Roach said, was enough to launch him into a somersault, which also might have been one way to
celebrate an old feeling.

LONDON (Nov 20) – Unbeaten ace Chris Algieri has hailed Manny Pacquiao as ‘one of the greatest fighters ever’ but says he is ready to upset the boxing legend this weekend.

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.

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.

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.

“I’m tall for the weight class. I am built to go in and stand in front of the man and trade bombs – why would I do that? I’ve got length, I’ve got reach, I’ve got speed; I’ve got footwork and defence, but that’s not what’s going to be the difference in this fight,” said Algieri.

“It’s not a tall guy versus a short guy – it’s Chris Algieri versus Manny Pacquiao. It’s 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.

“We know Manny is a living legend and a Hall of Famer for sure. He’s 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 – I just have to go out there and perform,” he said.

One man who has not been too impressed with Algieri has been respected trainer Freddie Roach, who was in Provodnikov’s corner the night the 30-year-old upset the odds and will once again be plotting his downfall, this time with Pacquiao.

The Hall of Fame coach has labelled Algieri ‘a runner’ and been critical of the Long Island native’s skill set, something which has left the challenger unaffected.

“For one, he is wasting his time because I don’t even read those reports. So that’s the first thing. Secondly, I hear about them from other people around me and it doesn’t make a difference to me,” said Algieri.

“It seems kind of odd for him to be coming out so much and saying so many different things and everyday it’s a new thing. But like I said, I don’t read them and I don’t care about them and it doesn’t make a difference come fight night.

“I would imagine it is some kind of strategy, a kind of mental game or whatnot. Freddie’s been around a long time and maybe this has worked for him in the past but it’s not going to work on me,” he said.

The educated Algieri, who holds a master’s degree in nutrition from Stony Brook University and is looking to enrol in medical school in the future, can’t believe his sudden rise to the top, having amassed a steady 20-0 record.

“It’s 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 ‘Chris, it’s just the way you said it would happen.’ It’s nothing, then boom!

“It is a full on sprint. It’s the nature of the business and I’m not surprised by it. I’ve been watching this sport for years and I have seen it with other fighters,” Algieri said.

“I 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,” he said.

A victory over the ‘Fighter of the Decade’ in Pacquiao, however, will catapult Algieri onto a level even he couldn’t have dreamed of a year ago.

Looking ahead to his impending challenge, he has guaranteed an entertaining fight when he steps between the ropes this Saturday night.

“I feel like I fight an aggressive style – smart-aggressive. I would have been more aggressive in the Ruslan Provodnikov fight if not because of my eye early in the fight.

“Don’t 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’s going to be in a smart way,” said Algieri.

“I box but I have never heard anyone say that I was a boring fighter or that they didn’t 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.

“All 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’s good to watch,” he said.

Pacquiao vs. Algieri is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546, TalkTalk 525) this Saturday night. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-

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Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

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Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

NEW YORK (Nov. 19, 2014) — At last night’s monthly meeting, attended by 85 members, Ring 8 wanted to let Chris Algieri know that they are in his corner for Saturday’s fight against Manny Pacquiao in Macao, China.

“We wanted to show our support to Chris and decided to make this sign and send a picture of us to the media,” Ring 8 president Bob Duffy explained. “Chris is one of our own, from New York, and Ring 8’s 2014 Fighter of the Year

MACAO, CHINA (November 18, 2014) — Fighter of the Decade Congressman MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO, boxing’s only eight-division world champion, and New York’s undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight champion CHRIS ALGIERI, who has Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management, a Masters degree in Clinical Nutrition and a Ph.D. in Upsets Inside the Ring, will host their final press conference Wednesday, November 19, at The Venetian Macao.

The press conference will be streamed Live to the U.S. via www.toprank.tv, beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Pacquiao (56-4-3), the Filipino icon, defends his WBO welterweight title against Algieri (20-0), the scholar-fighter, Saturday, November 22, at The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena. Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Banner Promotions and Tecate, the Pacquiao vs. Algieri world welterweight championship event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

Joining Pacquiao and Algieri will be their respective trainers Freddie Roach and Tim Lane, promoters Bob Arum, Joe DeGuardia and Ed Tracy, President and CEO of Sands China Ltd.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #PacAlgieri to join the conversation on Twitter.

ESPN will present extensive pre- and post-fight coverage across its platforms in English and Spanish of the 12-round Welterweight title fight between WBO Welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) and undefeated fast-rising challenger Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs), who started the year off with a February win over Emanuel Taylor on ESPN Friday Night Fights. The fight, from the Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena in Macau, China, will be produced and distributed live by HBO-Pay-Per-View on Saturday Nov. 22, at 9 p.m. ET.

Highlights:

Television
· SportsCenter:

o Pre- and post-fight coverage, including interviews with both fighters on Thursday, Nov. 20, during the 8 p.m. hour and planned live coverage of the Friday, Nov. 21 weigh-in.

· ESPN Deportes/ESPN International:

o Golpe a Golpe: Jorge Eduardo Sánchez and analyst Juan Manuel Márquez will provide live coverage of Friday’s weigh-in with reporter Bernardo Osuna reporting from Macau on Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. A special pre-fight and post-fight show with Sánchez, Márquez and Osuna will air Saturday, Nov. 22, at 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., respectively.

o ESPN will also air Golpe Golpe in Mexico and Central America.

o News and information platforms will also have pre- and post-fight news and analysis throughout the week.

Digital
· ESPN3:

o Coverage of the press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 8:30 a.m., and weigh-in on Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m., will be live on ESPN3 via WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One to fans who receive their Internet or video subscription from an affiliated provider. ESPN3 will also carry the Pacquiao vs. Algieri Red Carpet Non-televised Bouts Show on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m.

· ESPN.com:

o Comprehensive coverage, including pre- and post-fight features, videos and blogs from Dan Rafael, Brian Campbell, Nigel Collins, Bernardo Pilatti, HBO’s Kieran Mulvaney, Osuna and ESPN the Magazine’s Brett Forrest.

o “Fight Credential,” ESPN.com’s home page for all Pacquiao vs. Algieri coverage, will be updated with features, video, photos and social media from all platforms throughout the week and through the fight.

o Making the Rounds, ESPN.com’s original boxing show, previews the fight with HBO boxing analyst and ESPN SportsNation host Max Kellerman, Rafael and Campbell.

o ESPN3 live streams of Wednesday’s press conference, Friday’s weigh-in and Saturday’s Red Carpet Non-televised Bouts Show.

o Additional video, including, HBO’s Under the Lights: Pacquiao-Algieri, HBO’s 24/7 Pacquiao/Algieri and more.

o “Five keys to victory” feature, which highlights what each fighter needs to do to win.

o “In their own words” Q&A with each fighter. View Pacquiao Q&A; View Algieri Q&A.

o Former opponents of Pacquiao and Algieri discuss what each fighter must do to win. View Q&A with Eric Morales; View Q&A with Ruslan Provodnikov; View Q&A with Timothy Bradley Jr.

Schedule of Pacquiao vs. Algieri Coverage Across ESPN Platforms:
Date
Time (ET)
Coverage
Network/Platform
Wed, Nov 19
8:30 a.m.
Pacquiao vs. Algieri Press Conference
ESPN3, ESPN.com
Thurs, Nov 20
8 p.m.
Interviews with Pacquiao and Algieri
SportsCenter on ESPNEWS
Fri, Nov 21
7 p.m.
Pacquiao vs. Algieri Live Weigh-in
ESPN3, ESPN.com, SportsCenter on ESPN

Golpe a Golpe: Weigh-in Show
ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN
Sat, Nov 22
7 p.m.
Pacquiao vs. Algieri: Red Carpet Non-televised Bouts Show
ESPN3, ESPN.com

8 p.m.
Golpe a Golpe: Pre-Fight Show
ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

2 a.m.
Golpe a Golpe: Post Fight Show
ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

By Bart Barry

Saturday at the Venetian in Macau, Filipino Manny Pacquiao will defend his welterweight title against New Yorker Chris Algieri, a junior welterweight titlist. It is a fight somewhat intriguing because, while few aficionados imagine the match will be close, a number disagree on its likely victor.

Perspective plays a larger role than usual in determining where an aficionado finds himself on the question of Chris Algieri’s chances against Manny Pacquiao, prefight. Looking through one end of the telescope, Algieri is fully outclassed by the prizefighter after whom this era likely will be named, a man who, in going 6-2-1 (3 KOs) against the combination of Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez, each a hall of famer in his prime when he fought Pacquiao, set a mark unrivaled by anyone currently plying the craft.

It is not stated often enough: Manny Pacquiao made nine matches with the best fighters in his and their best weightclasses, and six of them were rematches.

Much of what has transpired in Pacquiao’s career since his second match with Marquez, in 2008, is noteworthy for its remarkable promotion – by Bob Arum and HBO – and matchmaking by Top Rank’s brain trust. Pacquiao has grown his weight and stature by decisioning larger, slower, betterfed men than those whom he blitzed at 126 and 130 pounds. Recently Freddie Roach expressed equal parts awe and annoyance with his charge having gone to welterweight for a special-attraction purse against Oscar De La Hoya at the end of 2008, and then having been returned there nine more times.

Roach is mocking and scornful, edgier than usual, too, when he broaches the issue of Algieri’s advantage over Pacquiao in height and reach, and nutritional scholarship and culinary acumen, perhaps because Roach’s other charge, Ruslan Provodnikov, in losing a narrow decision to Algieri in June, became the New Yorker’s career springboard. Roach refuses to sing along with a promotional chorus that implies Pacquiao is new to fighting men longer than he is; forgotten to many aficionados, though fewer who were ringside at Cowboys Stadium four years ago this week, was the absurd physical superiority Antonio Margarito enjoyed against Pacquiao, the absurd chemical state into which Margarito placed himself with ephedrine and caffeine before making his ringwalk, and the absurd language Pacquiao employed in an abandoned concrete corner of Cowboys Stadium afterwards, saying Margarito hurt him badly enough with a body punch Pacquiao was lucky to have lived.

And no, Pacquiao has never been the same fighter since that match with Margarito. And no, Algieri has nowhere near Margarito’s physicality or championship experience.

The Manny Pacquiao who annihilated Ricky Hatton in 2009 would go through Chris Algieri and every male resident of his dad’s Long Island home in fewer than three rounds. That Pacquiao was, to employ trainer Nacho Beristain’s memorable phrase, “a wildcat” – and an indefatigable one at that. But the Pacquiao we last saw in April is a markedly different creature.

Five years removed from his last knockout victory, two years removed from his last knockout loss, Pacquiao now keeps a running scorecard in his head while he fights, ensuring no motion is wasted once a round is won. He’s still a man only the era’s purest offensive technician, Juan Manuel Marquez, should dare an even-terms exchange with, but he’s no longer a man who preys on timid opponents.

Algieri will be happy to use tactical timidity against Pacquiao, since not-fighting Pacquiao will discomfit Manny considerably. Algieri, as anyone near boxing is well past tired of hearing, is not a typical boxing story – though if he were the product of Harlem homelessness and a stepdad who abused him and a saintly retired cop who ran a gym in the basement of a church where he taught Chris to throw the old one-two, of course, we’d still hear he’s not the typical boxing story. It’s publicist twaddle.

Like most everything about boxing, Algieri’s likability is inversely proportionate to his distance from a ring; when he’s fighting offensive forces like Provodnikov or Pacquiao he’s quite likable, and when he’s appearing on heavily edited HBO infomercials he’s likable enough, and when he’s posting his meals and topless selfies and inspirational bromides on Twitter he is a douchebag – as the kids are saying it these days. What he has that should make him different from other of Pacquiao’s considerably better and consistently vanquished opponents, though, is a sense of entitled superiority Pacquiao may not be able to dent.

Pacquiao glides through life today, looking only forward, in a way few others can or have – though Arnold Schwarzenegger comes to mind as an analogous example. But Algieri still would not trade places with the Filipino. When Algieri says spending time round Pacquiao during their kickoff media tour convinced him he belongs in such company, there’s the faintest hint of disappointment in Algieri’s voice: I thought I would have my identity challenged enough to learn things about myself and others I didn’t already know, but, well, it turned out I was prepared for all this already, and Manny’s a good guy, I like him, and Freddie, too, honestly, even if he doesn’t like me.

Some of that really may be attributable to nutrition; coming of age when and where he did, Algieri’s access to what nutrients grow potent brains was likely greater than young Pacquiao’s and young Roach’s combined. Much of it is classifiable for the time being as luck; how certain experiences order certain person’s lives in unique ways. Little of it is attributable to what hard work and dedication American autobiographers fetishize; notice how infrequently someone like Pacquiao references his own work ethic – for coming from a place where working hard and being dedicated earn you about an extra $1/day.

Pacquiao should win Saturday, and not merely because no judge who wishes to enjoy his Sunday in Macau would score a close round for the New Yorker. Pacquiao should win Saturday, and neither fighter’s current career or life trajectories will be altered by it in the slightest.

Bart Barry can be reach via Twitter @bartbarry

MACAO, CHINA (November 16, 2014) – Just one day after arriving in Macao, undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight champion CHRIS ALGIERI resumed his promotional roadwork for the biggest fight of his professional life – challenging Fighter of the Decade and reigning WBO welterweight champion Congressman MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO. On a busy Sunday in the St. Mark’s Square section of the Shoppes at Venetian, Algieri made a public appearance where was greeted by hundreds of fans, posed for photos and answered questions about his career and this Saturday’s battle with Pacquiao.

“With one million square feet of retail space and over 350 stores at the Shoppes at Venetian I think I can get in my daily roadwork and my Christmas shopping, all at the same time,” said Algieri to the delight of fans and shop owners alike. “I love Macao. It was great during my last visit on the promotional tour and it is even better this time. I am glad to be able to spend more time here.

“I worked hard for over 10 weeks in the most strenuous and productive training camp of my career. I had a lot of different sparring partners, including Zab Judah, giving me different looks to prepare me for anything Pacquiao decides to throw at me. I am 110% prepared for our fight.”

When asked how a fighter could be so handsome, Algieri responded, “Every time I enter the ring I look to improve and perfect my master-boxer style of fighting — utilizing the space inside the ring to my advantage. Good defense is the key to preserving my handsomeness,” Algieri continued to the laughter and shrieks from his female fans.”

Algieri concluded his public appearance by presenting three contest winners with Algieri and Pacquiao-autographed boxing gloves and posing for photographs with them.

Algieri will resume light training on Monday morning and meet with the first wave of U.S. media to arrive in the afternoon.

Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs), from Huntington, NY on Long Island, has Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management, a Masters degree in Clinical Nutrition and a Ph.D. in Upsets Inside the Ring. Algieri, who aspires to attend medical school when he concludes his boxing career, has become sports’ Horatio Algieri story! All of New York is riveted to its only world champion as he prepares to battlePacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative from the Sarangani Province of the Philippines, and boxing’s only eight-division world champion. All four of New York’s daily newspapers plus most major U.S. news outlets will be in Macao to chronicle fight week.

Below, please find Sunday’s Edition of Media Central:

Greg Logan, Newsday: “Long Island’s Chris Algieri Likes His Title Chances Against Manny Pacquiao”
http://www.newsday.com/sports/boxing/long-island-s-chris-algieri-likes-his-title-chances-against-manny-pacquiao-1.9621531

Ron Borges, Boston Herald: “Chris Algieri’s Focus, on Jab, Not Job”
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/columnists/ron_borges/2014/11/borges_chris_algieri_s_focus_on_jab_not_job?

Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star: “Algieri Pressure-Free and Ready”
http://www.philstar.com/sports/2014/11/14/1391606/algieri-pressure-free-and-ready

Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin: “Pacman to Unleash Furious Fists vs. Algieri”
http://sports.tempo.com.ph/2014/11/pacman-to-unleash-furious-fists-vs-algieri/

Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star: “Algieri: I Have All The Tools”
http://www.philstar.com/sports/2014/11/16/1392364/algieri-i-have-all-tools

In This Corner with James Smith: “Chris Algieri In-Ring Demonstration and Interview (Video)

Nov. 14, 2014 – HBO Sports, widely acclaimed for its innovative and provocative boxing programming initiatives, introduces an all-new special when UNDER THE LIGHTS: PACQUIAO-ALGIERI debuts Saturday, Nov. 15 at 11:45 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO. The special will dig deep and put the upcoming HBO Pay-Per-View® showdown on Nov. 22 between world welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao and fast-rising challenger Chris Algieri under the spotlight.

Hosted by HBO Boxing commentator Max Kellerman, UNDER THE LIGHTS will feature two respected and opinionated experts: accomplished welterweight star Timothy Bradley Jr. and renowned trainer Virgil Hunter. Bradley has fought Pacquiao twice, earning a split-decision victory in 2012 and coming up short in the 2014 rematch. Both Hunter and Bradley are well known for their honest opinions and assessments.

Other HBO playdates: November 15 (11:45 p.m.), 16 (8:45 a.m.), 17 (11:00 a.m. & 2:45 a.m.), 18 (4:30 p.m. & 12:30 a.m.), 19 (11:45 a.m.), 21 (9:45 p.m. & 3:30 a.m.), and 22 (10:15 a.m.).

HBO2 playdates: November 16 (2:00 a.m.), 20 (1:45 p.m. & 10:15 p.m.) and 21 (4:30 p.m. & 11:45 p.m.).

HBO Signature playdates: November 22 (5:15 p.m.).

Immediately following the premiere of UNDER THE LIGHTS, HBO will present a same day encore replay of the world heavyweight championship fight from Hamburg as Wladimir Klitschko meets Kubrat Pulev at midnight.

All times are ET/PT.

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (Nov. 13, 2014) – AirAsia, voted the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for six straight years by Skytrax World Airline Awards from 2009 to 2014, announced that it will be the official airline for People’s Champ and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao.

Representative Pacquiao, boxing’s biggest attraction, is set to take his act on the road again on November 22, when he defends his WBO welterweight title against Chris Algieri at the Cotai Arena in The Venetian Macao (live on pay-per-view in the U.S.)

As the official airline of Team Pacquiao, AirAsia has unveiled an exclusive aircraft livery featuring the boxing sensation. The livery design was unveiled today in a press launch in General Santos City, Philippines attended by AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes and AirAsia Philippines CEO Joy Cañeba.

Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Group CEO said, “It’s a great honor for AirAsia to be chosen as the official airline of team Pacman. Congressman Manny’s story is an inspiration not only for Filipinos but to all of us who dared to dream the seemingly impossible. AirAsia’s commitment in the Philippines is anchored on the same dream, to make flying more affordable, more accessible and to provide the best quality service that every Filipino deserves.”

For his part, Representative Pacquiao said, “I am delighted to be part of AirAsia’s mission in promoting the Philippines, our Filipino talents, sports and tourism wonders to the global stage. Let’s celebrate the Filipino spirit and my team is looking forward to your support in my upcoming match in Macau in November.”

To celebrate the partnership, AirAsia is offering promo seats for as low as P199 base fare only for direct flights to/from Manila-Macau via AirAsia Philippines including promo seats for flights from Malaysia, Thailand and other destinations in the AirAsia group. Promo seats are available for booking today at www.airasia.com for immediate travel in November until 9th June 2015.

Pacman’s fans can look forward to spotting the special Manny Pacquiao branded Airbus A320 which carries the colors of the Philippine flag and Pacquiao’s logo painting the skies red soon from AirAsia hubs not only in Manila, Cebu, Kalibo to domestic destinations of Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Tagbilaran (Bohol), Tacloban and to international points in Malaysia, China and South Korea but all over AirAsia’s 88 destinations across Asean countries and extending as far as China, India, Australia and more!

Joy Cañeba, AirAsia Philippines CEO said, “We are honored and humbled that the People’s Champ, the Filipino pride, Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao has chosen AirAsia as his official airline partner. AirAsia Philippines will shake up the aviation industry and this partnership is just one of the examples on how we will take this game to a higher level. AirAsia will promote the Philippines to the world and bring the world closer to every Filipino via our massive network.”

In honor of Manny Pacquiao, AirAsia is opening Manila – GenSan route with attractive introductory fares to be announced very soon.

AirAsia Philippines is also offering a P0.01 seat sale for all domestic and international destinations. Promo seats are available for booking today at www.airasia.com until 16th November 2014, for the travel period from 10th June 2015 – 17th Jan 2016.

All-in promo seats (with airport tax, fuel surcharge and other applicable fees) from Manila to Kalibo (Boracay), Tagbilaran (Bohol), Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Cebu, Tacloban* and Cebu to Davao**, Cagayan de Oro** are available from as low as P353.81, one way while international flights from Manila, Cebu, Clark, Kalibo to South Korea (Incheon/Seoul and Busan), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu), China (Macau and Shanghai) and many more start from as low as P750.00, all-in, one way only.

AirAsia Group is also offering 3 Million promo seats to various domestic & international destinations such as Langkawi, Yogyakarta, Krabi, Siem Reap, Kalibo (gateway to Boracay), Da Nang, Surat Thani (gateway to Koh Samui), Chengdu, Perth and many more destinations from Kuala Lumpur; along with other exciting destinations from AirAsia’s other hubs in Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching.

With AirAsia’s enhanced list of ‘Fly-Thru’ city pairs, guests are able to enjoy seamless connectivity from Manila, Clark and Cebu to Australia, Jeddah, India, Brunei, China and to top tourist destinations in ASEAN region. There are currently 858 Fly-Thru city pairs which AirAsia & AirAsia X guests can choose from.

The P0.01 promotion is available online at www.airasia.com and also via AirAsia’s mobile apps on iPhone and Android devices, and also AirAsia’s mobile site at mobile.airasia.com.. Just search AirAsia on the respective app stores to download and start booking!

AirAsiaGo, the holiday division of the world’s best low cost airline, will also be offering special deals for travellers during this promo. AirAsiaGo is presenting great savings up to 60% when promo seats are booked together with hotel accommodation. Prices are from as low as RM149 (P1,939) for both flight and accommodation (per person). For those looking for accommodation only, grab it from as low as RM59 (P767) per night. For more information and to book, visit its website at www.AirAsiaGo.com. The same promo booking period and travel period applies.

Be a BIG Shot under the AirAsia BIG Loyalty Programme and earn BIG Points to redeem free AirAsia flights! BIG Shots can also opt for BIG Points & cash redemption to redeem flights, with only a minimum of 500 BIG Points. For more information, please visit www.airasiaBIG.com.

Keep updated with AirAsia’s latest promotions and activities via Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsiaPH)and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsiaPhilippines).

*starts December 3
**starts December 12

# # #

About the AirAsia Group

AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with 88 destinations. Within 12 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 230 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to over 170. The airline today is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and India, servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries as well as China, India and Australia. AirAsia was named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for six consecutive years from 2009 – 2014.

We bring you Chris Algieri today live from his training camp at the Venetian Las Vegas and joining him today is his trainer Tim Lane and his promoter Joe DeGuardia. Chris Algieri is the undefeated champion and the only world champion representing New York right now and a renaissance man by any definition.. After sparring session on Wednesday, he will depart for Macau that evening. To tell us more about Chris and the promotion, here is Hall of Fame Promoter Bob Arum.

BOB ARUM: What do you mean he is the only champion that New York has? The Jets just beat the Steelers over the weekend! I’m glad to be on this call and we are all getting ready to go across the world to Macau and our hosts, The Venetian. Everybody is really looking forward to this event. It is building up tremendously. All of these great fighters leaving who will be participating on the card and we are thrilled to have Chris Algieri with us today because he has really stirred the pot. People are paying tremendous attention to this fight and I think everyone should watch “Under the Lights” this weekend on HBO because it is a true analysis of the fight. Tim Bradley did a great job with Virgil Hunter analyzing the fight so without further ado, I know Tim Lane is here and Joe DeGuardia, but I would like to now turn the call over to Chris Algieri.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Thank you, Bob. I am glad to be here and it’s great to be involved with this promotion and have the opportunity for this fight.

Before we get started I would just like to take a moment to pay tribute to the real warriors that are out there on this Veterans Day and give them the honor and tribute that they deserve for going above and beyond in fighting for our country and our freedom.

With that being said, I am happy to be here and training camp has gone fantastic and it has been a tremendous lead-up going into fight week and Team Algieri is very excited about our trip to Macau. All of our work is done here and now we are ready to travel across the world and shock the world.

TIM LANE: Thanks to everyone for joining in and thanks to Top Rank and Star Boxing for allowing us to be in a show like this. Training has been wonderful. Chris is in shape. He is mentally and physically ready to go and we are ready for our road trip.

JOE DeGUARDIA: It is a pleasure to be on this call. So much has been said about Chris already. He has been a great ambassador for the sport. I am proud of our relationship and it has been a great promotion going from Stony Brook to Wall Street to Shangahi and Macau. It’s going to be a great fight and we are looking forward to taking on Manny Pacquiao on November 22nd. .

BOB ARUM: You forgot to mention Joe that because we stopped at AT&T Park in San Francisco a lot of people are crediting Manny and Chris for bringing good luck to the San Francisco Giants, who went from Wild Card to World Champions.

How is Chris handling the pressure?

TIM LANE: Chris has been handling the pressure like there is no pressure. There is a lot of relaxation and meditation and ice baths after workouts. This is the Chris Algieri Show, like I said before, this is what he had visualized for years and now he has the situation the way he has always dreamt about having it. This is a dream come true so there is no pressure. There is great energy and Chris is feeding off all of it and he is stronger than ever.

Is Medical School still in your future?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Medical School is the next step in my career. There is no doubt about that. My mind is still hungry and I want to continue my education. But that is on hold right now. Now I am focusing full time on my boxing career. We are at the elite level right now and it takes 100% focus.

Where do you wish to go to Medical School?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I had always planned to go to a New York institution because I love New York and had a great experience in college back on Long Island. Stony Brook is my Alma Mater from undergrad and they have a fantastic, competitive medical school and that would be a great place to look into. But there are other great schools in New York and we’ll see what’s available when the time comes. In terms of what I want to study, I have a lot of friends that have gone through the process and often times you don’t know what your expertise will be until you go through your rotations to experience it first-hand. My background is health and fitness and cardiovascular interests me. A lot of the issues we are having in the country right now are directly related to a lack of good fitness and nutrition and since I have a background in that already it does make logical sense. There is also Sports Medicine, so we’ll see. There are a lot of options when it comes to medicine and health care.

Since Manny is in the Philippines and you are in the USA, how has it been for you to carry this entire promotion?

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s been fantastic. It’s the kind of stuff that you want as a fighter coming up. I am now a champion and fighting at the elite level and you want this kind of exposure. A lot of guys say this, but when it comes they really don’t want it. I’m not that kind of guy. This stuff gets me up. My open workouts are like fight day. I’ve got a lot of pressure on me and I ride it to the top. I am enjoying my time here and my time under the microscope and I believe that has helped out whole team step up to perform that much better.

Do you feel as though you are being taken advantage of because you are here doing all of the interviews and Pacquiao is all by himself?

CHRIS ALGIERI: See, this is actually the first time I am fighting when I am not working as well. I have been a full-time boxer for this camp, so all of this other stuff I have been doing is kind of in par with stuff I have been doing anyway. I am a guy that does a million other things in addition to boxing. I have a lot of other stuff that I have been into my entire career and I have put all of that on hold now I am doing more stuff involving the actual promotion of the fight like doing interviews and making appearances. So for me I am no busier than I have ever been – I have always been a busy guy.

If Chris Algieri wins, what do you think that does for the sport?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I would hope that it would attract a more mainstream audience and have a crossover appeal – we need to get more people watching boxing. I love this sport and anything we can do to help it is great. The more attention that is drawn to any of the fighters, especially in a positive way, is good for the sport. And if it’s elevating my career, what the hell, let’s do it.

When you hear a Freddie Roach talking smack, do you feel a need to go back at him or just sit quietly by?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I am not going to change just to promote a fight. My stance is to not go back-and-forth and I am not fighting Freddie. That’s not the man I have to box with so I am not going to go back-and-forth firing darts at each other. You don’t see Pacquiao doing that. That’s Freddie’s prerogative and that’s what he likes to do. That’s not me, even if it helps the promotion of the fight, that’s not my style. It is what it is. If he wants to say that, that’s fine by me. What matters is fight night and myself and Pacquiao.

If Algieri beats Pacquiao, is he in line to fight Mayweather?

BOB ARUM: How can I talk for Mayweather? As far as the Pacquiao fight is concerned with Mayweather, as much as a lot of people surrounding it would want it to happen, myself included and Manny included, Floyd is reluctant to fight Manny Pacquiao, period. If people don’t see that by now, they are never going to see it. In as far as if Chris Algieri wins the fight against Manny Pacquiao, then there is a provision in the contract for a rematch. If he beats Pacquiao then beats Manny in a rematch and Floyd wants to fight him, that’s not my business – that’s up to Joe DeGuardia and it’s up to the Mayweather camp.

How do you feel about putting Long Island back on the map? This is the most anyone has talked about boxing on Long Island in a very long time – since Buddy McGirt was champion.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Boxing on Long Island – there is history there. It’s been a while since Buddy McGirt and Gerry Cooney, but you know, we are in kind of a resurgence now. We are putting our show there constantly – Star Boxing shows at the Paramount have drawn big crowds over the years and there is a lot of up and coming talent there now. You see more and more gyms with competitive professional fighters. It’s really come up and it’s great. When I was a kid, I did martial arts because boxing wasn’t really available on Long Island. I think now kids are able to begin boxing earlier. So it’s great and whatever can promote the sport on a whole is a good thing. And if we can do it on Long Island, where I am from, it’s a beautiful thing.

Do you ever it back and think ‘Wow, I can’t believe I got to this point in my career this quickly?’

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s 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 ‘Chris, it’s just the way you said it would happen.’ It’s nothing then boom! it is a full on sprint. It’s the nature of the business and I’m not surprised by it. I’ve been watching this sports for years and I have seen it with other fighters. I 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.

How does preparing for Pacquiao differ from preparing for Provodnikov?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Let me touch on Provodnikov’s style. He is a lot better than people think. Every fight he has lost has been a very close fight. He really brought it and he is a great champion. On top of being an exciting fighter the guy is good. And to tell you the truth the Ruslan I fought was the best Ruslan I have ever seen. They guy was cutting off the ring and his technique was very sharp and he was faster than usual. I made a mistake early and we all know how that went. I don’t want to downplay Ruslan’s power at all. He’s a fantastic fighter but in terms of his style and Manny’s they are completely different and the preparations for each are completely different but that is no different for me because I am always fighting guys with different styles. I have not been one of those champions that have been fed perfect guys to make me look great. I have had to fight every single style coming up on my way to get here I wasn’t fed anyone in any point of my career. I fought every style you could think of – righty, lefty, tall, short, power-puncher, fast guys, counter guys, so for me it is the norm – training for guys with different styles. Provodnikov has a totally different style than Manny Pacquiao and that’s what training camp is all about and that’s why I stay in shape year round, so I can work on strategy in camp instead of getting in shape.

Is your size an advantage?

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s genetic. I’m tall for the weight class. I am built to go in and stand in front of the man and trade bombs – why would I do that? I’ve got length, I’ve got reach, I’ve got speed; I’ve got footwork and defense, but that’s not what’s going to be the difference in this fight. It’s not a tall guy versus a short guy – It’s Chris Algieri versus Manny Pacquiao. It’s 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. We know Manny is a living legend and a hall of famer for sure. He’s one of the greatest fighters that has ever lived. For me, I have to go out there and be myself. I have the talent and the tools to win this fight – I just have to go out there and perform.

How do you feel about the WBO wanting to take the belt away?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I am just focused on what’s in front of me. I really can’t worry about or complain about the WBO situation at this point. I am just focused on winning another WBO title on November 22nd. It’s one of those things that can’t matter to me. I’ve got other things to focus on and I’ve always been good at that. If it doesn’t make a difference right now, I can’t worry about it.

BOB ARUM: That decision from the WBO is now on hold. Paco [Valcarcel] will be over in Macau and you will be too. You can talk to him there. Obviously if Chris beats many all of this is moot, so a decision will be made after the fight. But you will have the opportunity to question Paco in Macau because I think he will be arriving on Tuesday or Wednesday of fight week.

How do you feel about Freddie trying to intimidate you with the comments he is making?

CHRIS ALGIERI: For one, he is wasting his time because I don’t even read those reports. So that’s the first thing. Secondly, I hear about them from other people around me and it doesn’t make a difference to me. It seems kind of odd for him to be coming out so much and saying so many different things and every day it’s a new thing. But like I said, I don’t read them and I don’t care about them and it doesn’t make a difference come fight night. I would imagine it is some kind of strategy, a kind of mental game or whatnot. Freddie’s been around a long time and maybe this has worked for him in the past but it’s not going to work on me.

Some would compare you to the San Francisco Giantsm with you both being the Wild Cards…

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s not just this fight. It has been like that for many of my fights in my career, especially this year, and people seem to think I came out of nowhere. I was given an opportunity as a Wild Card and I ran with it and I think I’ve done that. So yes, I think that’s a fair association.

Do you think, since most of the fans will be Pacquiao backers, you will need a knockout to win?

CHRIS ALGIERI: No, I don’t think so. The judges are much closer to the action than the fans are. Fans sure can sway the way a fight looks. I am confident in the ability of the judges and if I do what I need to do and things go the way that we plan, we will come out with the victory regardless of the fan support.

BOB ARUM: Also, I wanted to say, you have to understand, if a fighter was fighting in America, and he was Mexican, would you say that the American judges would favor him because they come from the same continent? And the answer is ‘no.’ Manny Pacquiao is a Filipino and most of the people at the fight will be Chinese, whether they are from Hong Kong or mainland China. To think that someone would favor a Filipino over a US guy is to not understand the geo-political nature of different countries. The Chinese have as much affinity for a Filipino as they would an American, just as Americans would not necessarily favor a Mexican who is fighting over here. We can’t get into the narrow thinking that an Asian is an Asian. That’s silly – that just isn’t the case. Thai’s, Indonesians, Chinese, Filipinos – various groups and they are not always particularly friendly to each other.

Do you feel as though you are carrying the Argentinean torch?

CHRIS ALGIERI: It’s great to see part of my culture doing so well in the sport that I’m involved in, a sport that I have a passion for. I grew up hearing about a lot of Argentine fighters, the great Carlos Monzon and even the fighters on ESPN lime Omar Vaez; and now guys like Marcos Maidana and Sergio Martinez. More often you see Argentine fighters doing big things on a major stage. To be associated with those guys is really an honor and it’s great to see so many people from my culture do big things in the sport.

You drink the mate-tea made from the Argentinean yerba mate plant?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I drink mate every day during training camp, and just in general. It’s packed full of vitamins and nutrients and a lot of B vitamins that you would normally get from meat. The caffeine in there affects me less and it’s more like a stimulant. I can drink more of it and it’s hydrating as well. It’s one of my favorite drinks, especially on a cold morning. It gives me just enough of a pep after a workout. It helps also with fat loss and staying lean. It really is an overall incredible health drink and on top of it it’s part of the culture. It’s something my whole family and does and what we have always done. It’s warm and soothing for the belly and it helps you digest as well. I drink it all the way up until fight day. It’s a part of my routine.

CHRIS ALGIERI: I feel like I fight an aggressive style – smart / aggressive. I would have been more aggressive in the Ruslan fight if not because of my eye early in the fight. I had to protect that eye and be even smarter than I normally would. Don’t be confused with my style just from that one fight, because I know a lot of you have only seen that one fight. I am an aggressive style boxer and I will be in there to mix it up, but it’s going to be in a smart way.

How does you medical / nutritional background help you in training?

CHRIS ALGIERI: If I can think of anything, but nothing specific that I have learned, is the time management and discipline and stay focused. Mentally focused to be aware. Our training sessions are mentally packed. We work on very specific game plans and strategies. So I have been dealing with those types of complicated things and my scholastic background, so I think that helps me – my nutrition and my understanding of the human body, and the processes for recovery and proper dietary restrictions.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Stony Brook is a great school scholastically and I enjoyed my time there. It taught me a lot about life and about the future that I am living now. It is an honor to have graduated from there and to be recognized as an alumnus.

Coach Tony Walters?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Tony was one of the first international world-class athlete I had ever dealt with and I was lucky enough to have him as a coach and he taught me a lot about the mental aspects of training and competition. It was great to be around him – he was like a father figure to me especially in my athletic background. That is a person I will never forget and share in all of my victories since I left there until I am done.

What type of work did you do recently?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Well, I was a full time student either at Stony Brook or NYU getting my masters degree. After I graduated with my masters I was working as a nutritionist and a personal trainer. So I have always had other business or other things going on while training for a fight.

Were you training people prior to the Provodnikov fight?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I was training people on Tuesday of fight week.

Did they get in shape when you trained them?

CHRIS ALGIERI: Absolutely, I had some very fit people. I worked with a lot of athletes helping them, especially combat athletes, MMA fighters, Bermudez, Weidman, and guys on the lower levels – boxers and MMA fighters. Then also moms, middle aged mothers that want to get back in shape after pregnancy or just being home and not training. I had a very varied client list.

You’ve never been in a big fight such as this, so do you think you are doing the right things to be mentally prepared? Guys have always said they know they are ready then they get in the ring and they realize they are not ready. Why do you think you will be different?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I guess you won’t know until November 22nd. But that being said, there are tell tales on the way up. At press conferences, and everything leading up to this fight has been kind of like a dress rehearsal for the big show. All the attention and being under a microscope for the past five months I think has prepared me well. But like you said, I guess we won’t know until that night.

Do you try to entertain as you box?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I box but I have never heard anyone say that I was a boring fighter or that they didn’t 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. All of my fights have been exciting, even the lopsided ones. I am not concerned about taking a conscious approach to making my style more exciting. 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’s good to watch.

Would you compare your style to Floyd Mayweather?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I throw a lot more punches than Floyd. He’s very efficient with his punches and when he throws he lands a very high percentage but he’s not exceptionally busy every round. I think I bring a lot of energy and combinations and punches every single round. Even when I’m not throwing I am moving my upper body, I’m moving my feet, I’m moving my head, I am changing levels – all those things are important and they count and they are a part of boxing. It’s kind of a lost art because it is difficult to teach and unless you are an educated fan or a trainer or a fighter you don’t even see those kinds of things. Bringing some of the finer elements of the sport to the ring.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Bernard Hopkins’ style is the way…everything he does is for a reason – little head feints, little hand movements, little shoulder rolls and gestures are all finer points of the sweet science. Before contemporary times everyone did that kind of stuff. I have seen videos of Sugar Ray Robinson and Willie Pep who did a million other things than just punch, to set up a perfect shot or to offset their opponents’ rhythm. Boxing is incredibly complicated. It’s not Rock’em Sock’em Robots.

When you had the competition with Manny on the press tour, what did you play?

CHRIS ALGIERI: We played pool, we bowled then we had batting practice then we went to ESPN Deportes they had a basketball shooting game Pop-a-Shot.

Did you win all the games?

CHRIS ALGIERI: I did, yes.

In Closing…

BOB ARUM: I just want to say that this has been a fantastic conference call. The promotion is really interesting. You have promotions where guys just trash-talk each other and that to me is boring. This has been a very intelligent kind of promotion with both fighters. I think everybody should watch on Saturday night, HBO’s “Under The Lights” because the different styles of the fighters are discussed extraordinarily intelligently by Max Kellerman, Tim Bradley and Virgil Hunter. It’s a program that I recommend that everybody watch because a lot of questions that you have just might be answered by watching that program.

BOB ARUM: I want to say something else…this promotion and this event has been like a real-life Rocky story. Now we know that Rocky came from the streets of Philadelphia and was uneducated, and we have a Rocky here that is highly educated and very articulate, but this is truly a Rocky story nevertheless. If I had scripted this and sent the script in to HBO, it would have been rejected because of being unrealistic. But here we are; it’s real, it’s real life, and Chris Algieri is the modern day Rocky. And this should be a tremendous event and fight on November 22nd and I want to thank everybody for participating in this conference call.

CHRIS ALGIERI: Thanks for all of the kind words. This has been a tremendous promotion and I have enjoyed every moment of it. I hope I was able to answer your questions today, and I will see you all on the other side of the world when it’s fight week. Team Algieri is very excited and very much looking forward to this fight. We are done with the hard work and we are ready to rock.

* * Chris will be sparring on Wednesday then heading to the LAX to depart for Macau.

Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Banner Promotions and Tecate, the Pacquiao-Algieri world welterweight championship event will take place Saturday, November 22, at The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena, and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

An all-new special “Under the Lights: Pacquiao-Algieri” debuts This Saturday! November 15 at 11:45 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO.

Replays of “24/7 Pacquiao/Algieri,” will air on HBO during the following days and times: November 13 (2:30 p.m.), 18 (8:45 a.m.), 19 (6:00 p.m.), 21 (1:00 p.m. & 3:00 a.m.), and 22 (9:45 a.m.). It is also available on the HBO On Demand® service, HBO GO® and at www.hbo.com/boxing.

HBO2 playdates for 24/7: 19 (8:00 p.m.) and 21 (4:15 p.m. & 11:30 p.m.).

HBO Signature playdates for 24/7: November 22 (5:30 p.m.).

All times are ET/PT.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #PacAlgieri to join the conversation on Twitter.