MANILA, Philippines – Despite doubts about its marketability, Manny Pacquiao’s fight with Chris Algieri has the potential to be a barnburner, according to a veteran boxing commentator.
Al Bernstein, a world-renowned boxing scribe and analyst, believes Algieri isn’t a walk-in-the park bout for Pacquiao, who takes on the undefeated American (20-0, with 8 KOs) on Nov. 23 in Macau.
“I think it’s an interesting fight, I think it’s appropriate,” the 63-year-old boxing sage told Robert Brown of On The Ropes Boxing Radio.
“Chris Algieri is a young guy who got a very big win over Ruslan Provodnikov in a close fight, he had to get past early adversity — getting knocked down twice and terrible swelling around his right eye — he was able to get past it and fight very well, get an important win,” added Bernstein, referring to Algieri’s career-defining win over Provodnikov last month.
The New York-based Algieri rose from two first-round knockdowns to upset Provodnikov and take the Russian’s WBO light welterweight title.
That’s what earned Algieri the fight with Pacquiao, something that will pay him a career-high purse of $1.5 million.
Although Pacquiao will definitely enter the fight as the favorite, Bernstein cautioned the Filipino icon.
“Chris Algieri is not going to be an easy foe for Pacquiao because he’s a very good boxer, he’s got a good jab, good straight right hand. That’s a tricky fight for Pacquiao,” Bernstein explained.
At 5-foot-11, Algieri enjoys a significant height advantage over the 5-foot-6 Pacquiao, who interestingly is no stranger to fighting taller guys. In 2010, the fighting congressman battered Antonio Margarito, also standing 5-foot-11, for 12 rounds.
Nevertheless, Bernstein likes Algieri’s chances against Pacquiao.
“I think Chris Algieri is the real deal. I think he’s a very good fighter,” he added.