Malaki ang paniniwala ni dating light heavyweight contender at trainer ngayon na si John “Iceman” Scully na sa huling laban ni Floyd Mayweather Jr. para sirain ang record ni ex-heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano na 49 panalo ay dapat nang makaharap nito si dating pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.

Sa panayam ni Robert Brown ng On The Ropes Boxing Show, iginiit ni Scully na may karapatan ang tulad niyang Amerikano na si Chris Algieri na hamunin ang Pilipino para sa WBO welterweight title sa Nobyembre 22 sa Macau, China.

“I think Chris showed a tremendous and impressive amount of grit, toughness, poise, heart and skills and perseverance last time out and that fight alone makes him as deserving as anyone else in the world right now,” ayon sa trainer ng mga dating kampeong pandaigdig na sina Chad Dawson at Mike Oliver, kapwa ng Estados Unidos.

“I’m actually kind of surprised that some people are down on the fight now after seeing his performance against (Russian Ruslan) Provodnikov,” paliwanag ni Scully. “It isn’t always about the biggest names or the most famous names or the particular guy that you like to see. For me, the kid earned the fight in the greatest manner and he’s getting it. End of story.”

Bilib din siya kay Top Rank big boss Bob Arum na patuloy sa pagsubok sa mga alagang boksingero na ikinakasa kay Pacquiao kahit naisasakripisyo ang pay-per-view hits.

“I don’t really follow the business side of things like that but I do know what you’re saying. In cases like this, I always assume a man like Bob Arum knows exactly what he’s doing and that there’s got to be a method behind the madness,” diin ni Scully. “Personally I think Algieri put on a great and unexpected performance over an extremely dangerous opponent and came through with flying colors. He showed so much in terms of resilience, boxing ability, and calm under pressure. His style and enthusiasm and grit alone make him a very worthy opponent in my eyes. Definitely.”

Kung siya ang masusunod, gusto ni Scully na makaharap ni Mayweather sa huling laban bago magretiro si Pacquiao na tiyak na panonoorin ng mga apisyonado sa boksing.

“In my own perfect world I would like to see him face Keith Thurman and if he is successful, then he of course, absolutely must face Pacquiao for his 50th,” dagdag ni Scully. “There would be no greater way to end his career than with the blockbuster fight against Manny. No question.”