Nangako ang Amerikanong si Chris Algieri na sosorpresahin niya ang buong mundo kung saan ay nangako itong aagawin ang WBO welterweight title ni Pambansa Kamao Manny Pacquiao sa Nobyembre 22 sa Macau, China.
Unang lumikha ng malaking upset si Algieri nang makabangon sa dalawang pagbagsak sa 1st round para talunin sa 12-round split decision noong nakaraang Hunyo si Russian Ruslan Provodnikov sa kanyang teritoryo sa Barclays Center sa Brooklyn, New York.
“My last fight against Ruslan Provodnikov got the world’s attention, now I am going to show what I can really do. I have the utmost respect for Manny and his great team, but make no mistake -- I am here to win and I have nothing on my mind but beating a legend,” sinabi ni Algieri sa BoxingScene.com.
Naniniwala si Algieri na magagamit niya ang tangkad, bilis at mahabang bitis para sa mga jabs na patatamain kay Pacquiao at maiwasan ang malaking kalamangan sa karanasan ng Pilipino.
‘’That’s why the number one thing that would concern me would be his experience,’’ pahayag ni Algieri. ‘’In terms of his speed and footwork and the things he does that everyone looks at when they think of Manny, I’m not so worried about that stuff, because what I feel is the great equalizer in boxing is the jab.”
Idniin niyang ang kanyang matutulis na jabs ang magpapanalo laban kay Pacquiao.
‘’I don’t care what you got. I don’t care how strong you are. I don’t care how fast you are. A good jab and a good mind can neutralize anything,’’ dagdag ng kasalukuyang WBO light welterweight champion. ‘’Manny is what he is, he is a legend. But not that long ago Manny was in a position I’m in now. He was a relatively unknown guy and he was fighting against the world champion. He came to the US for the (Lehlohonolo) Ledwaba fight (in 2001). That was the first time I saw Manny and he was an unknown guy.”
Naniniwala si Algieri na nasa posisyon na siya nang magtungo si Pacquiao sa Amerika kaya tiniyak na tatalunin ang Pilipino.