Kahit malaki ang bilib sa kababayang si Chris Algieri, naniniwala si two-division world champion Paul Malignaggi na mas matalas ang mga bigwas ni Manny Pacquiao kaysa sa Amerikanong challenger.

Madalas alaskahin ni Malignaggi ang kakayahan ni Pacquiao ngunit sa panayam ni Jenna Jay ng On The Ropes Boxing Radio Show ay naniniwala siyang dehado si Algieri sa paghamon sa kasalukuyang WBO welterweight titlist sa Nobyembre 22 sa Macau, China.

“I told people before the (Ruslan) Provodnikov fight that Chris was gonna be better than they thought, so don’t be shocked if that fight winds up being close, and he winds up actually doing better that anybody thought,” diin ni Malignaggi na inagawan ng IBF welterweight title ng sparring partner ni Pacquiao na si Shawn Porter.

“In this fight, I think Chris is gonna come on hard again and Chris has shown the self determination and the work ethic to be deserving of being at the top of the ladder in boxing,” paliwanag ni Malignaggi. “I think stylistically, this fight doesn’t favor Algieri as good as the Provodnikov fight did.”

Nahablutan din ng WBA light welterweight title ng sparring partner din ni Pacquiao na si Briton Amir Khan, iginiit ni Malignaggi na makakasabay lamang si Algieri sa Pilipino kung gagamitin nito ang kalamangan sa tangkad at bitis.

“Pacquiao and him both go on speed and timing and the boxing aspect of it, instead of the brawling aspect of it. I worry that Pacquiao might be a little too sharp for Chris or just a little quicker than Chris, but we’ll see because Pacquiao is getting up there in age,” ani Malignaggi. “Chris is a busy guy, we’ll see if he can use his height and kind of negate that in and out range of Pacquiao.”

Gayunman, para kay Malignaggi ay bentahe pa rin ang labang ito ni Algieri kay Pacquiao dahil manalo’t matalo ay ito pa rin ang WBO light welterweight titlist.

“Chris is a pretty tall kid for junior welterweight, even for a welterweight. He says he’s gonna push the pace and Chris is always in very good shape, he’s a fitness guru and I think he’s gone to school for that dietician and stuff like that,” dagdag ni Malignaggi. “He’s a very intelligent guy and knows how to get himself in shape, so we’ll see. Regardless of whatever happens, for Chris it’s a win-win situation because if he doesn’t pull off the upset, he’s still the junior welterweight champion.”