Binigyan ng masamang kulay ng Amerikanong si Chris Algieri ang iginigiit na catchweight na 144 pounds ni eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao at iginiit na gusto niyang maglaban sila ng Pinoy boxer sa 147 pounds na limitasyon sa welterweight division.

Sa panayam ni Ben Thompson ng FightHype.com, ipinagmalaki ni Algieri na napatunayan niya na mas malaki siya kay Pacquiao sa isinagawa nilang press tour kaugnay ng kanilang WBO welterweight title bout.

“Absolutely! Absolutely! And even being around him on the press tour, I think that was painfully evident that I am the bigger man even though we’re fighting in technically his weight class,” sinabi ng kasalukuyang WBO light welterweight champion na tubong New York.

Iginiit ni Algieri na gusto niyang maglaban sila ni Pacquiao sa 147 pounds pero iginiit ng kampo ng Pinoy boxer ang catchweight na 144 pounds.

“In fact, I wanted the fight to be at 147. I wanted to fight for a true welterweight title. The catchweight was on their side 100%,” paliwanag ni Algieri. “I’m a boxing purist. I wanted to fight for a welterweight title at 147 pounds because that’s what a welterweight is. They would not budge on that.”

Naniniwala si Algieri na ginusto ng Team Pacquiao ang catchweight na 144 pounds para hindi masyadong malaki ang diperensiya pagdating sa sagupaan.

“You can’t be a guy shot out of a cannon for 12 rounds, like he was when he fought Lehlo Ledwaba at 122 pounds, when you’re 145 pounds. It’s a different weight class; it’s a different sport, you know,” dagdag ni Algieri. “They’re fought at different speeds. The output is different. I don’t care who you are, if you’re putting on 25 pounds, you’re going to move differently and you’re going to fight differently.”