How durable is Algieri?

Chris Algieri may be unbeaten with a 20-0 record but the only test of durability he has undergone came in surviving 12 rounds with the rugged Russian tank Ruslan Provodnikov in Brooklyn last June. Of his 20 fights, only five were scheduled for 10 rounds or more. Six of his victims had more losses than wins, including Jason Jordan who came in with a ridiculous record of 6-27-4, and 11 had fought in less than 12 bouts.

Except for Provodnikov, the quality of Algieri’s opposition has been abominable. On Nov. 23, he’ll go up against WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in Macau and the experts are agreed that he’s about to bite more than he can chew. Algieri is stepping out of his class and into dangerous waters. That’s why Pacquiao is an early 14-1 favorite and despite his pristine record, Algieri isn’t given much of a chance to wrest the WBO 147-pound crown. The fight is set at a catchweight limit of 144 so Algieri, who is the reigning WBO 140-pound titlist, will move up while Pacquiao will move down. A few days ago, Pacquiao showed up at the PBA office for official sizing and weighing. He scaled 151 pounds and was measured 5-6 flat.

Algieri shouldn’t find it difficult fighting over 140. After all, he scaled 148 in his pro debut in 2008. But Algieri hasn’t scaled more than 143 1/2 in five years. For sure, he’ll enter the ring weighing less than Pacquiao which isn’t a bad thing – for the Filipino icon. Pacquiao hasn’t scored a knockout since disposing of Miguel Cotto in 2009. That’s eight straight fights where Pacquiao hasn’t halted anyone. Six of those eight fights, Pacquiao won on points and two, he lost to Timothy Bradley by split decision and Juan Manuel Marquez by knockout.

Pacquiao would like nothing better than to halt Algieri if only to prove he hasn’t lost his knockout touch. If Pacquiao is positioning to face Floyd Mayweather in a blockbuster showdown, possibly in May next year, he’ll dramatically upgrade his marketability with a stoppage of Algieri. A knockout win over Algieri could mean a few more million dollars in the pot for Pacquiao in negotiating a duel with Mayweather.

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So the question is: How durable is Algieri? Will he be able to withstand the sock in Pacquiao’s punches? Will Pacquiao rediscover the power that flattened the likes of Erik Morales, Ricky Hatton, Marco Antonio Barrera and David Diaz?

Against Provodnikov, Algieri took some serious punishment. In the first round, he was decked by a left hook. Algieri got up but shortly after, took another mandatory eight to stop the Russian’s onslaught by dropping to a knee. By the end of the round, Algieri’s right eye began to swell. At the final bell, the right eye was swollen shut.

Algieri endured the pain and went the distance with Provodnikov to score a split 12-round decision. Judge Max De Luca saw it 117-109 for the Russian but Tom Schreck and Don Trella had it 114-112 for Algieri. The disparity in De Luca’s scoresheet was glaring. Trainer Freddie Roach, who worked Provodnikov’s corner, couldn’t believe the outcome. Boxing News conceded that several rounds could’ve gone either way but felt Provodnikov had done enough to win. Provodnikov was more aggressive and hit harder but Algieri was busier.

“Algieri’s blows had no power yet he kept pecking away and cleanly hitting the defensively deficient Provodnikov,” wrote Boxing News’ Jack Hirsch. “Provodnikov would catch him with hard blows along the ropes but could never get him in a stationary position for long. As the sessions unfolded, Algieri boxed and moved. By the fifth, people were lauding his courage that he had lasted long enough to at least be competitive. That Algieri was there at all in the end is a story in itself. He had never faced anyone remotely in Provodnikov’s league.”

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The win over Provodnikov turned Algieri’s fortunes around overnight. He became the WBO lightwelterweight champion and got a shot at Pacquiao. Algieri has never fought in Las Vegas or a major venue like the Venetian Resort in Macau. All his 20 fights were held in New York and eight of his last nine were staged at the Paramount Theater which has a seating capacity of only 1,400. All of a sudden, Algieri will find himself performing before over 15,000 fans against Pacquiao in Macau.

Algieri, 30, bankrolled $100,000 for battling Provodnikov. Against Pacquiao, he’s been guaranteed $1.5 Million and a share of the upside or net income in pay-per-view sales. It’s a quantum leap forward for Algieri in terms of earning power.

Algieri, whose mother is Argentinian and father is of Italian descent, said he respects Pacquiao but doesn’t think the Filipino can beat him or Mayweather. “I don’t rate anyone on Mayweather’s level,” he said. “Andre Ward is No. 2 but he has had so many injuries that he hasn’t reached his full potential yet.” Algieri said he couldn’t defeat Mayweather if they fought now but eventually, he would as Money’s skills deteriorate with age.

Algieri survived Provodnikov because the Russian couldn’t keep in step. Provodnikov was just too slow to catch Algieri. He lasted the distance because he ran and got away. It will be a completely different story with Pacquiao who’s quick on his feet and hands. Algieri won’t be able to run and hide from Pacquiao who’ll stalk him from pillar to post. Pacquiao will expose Algieri’s supposed durability is a myth.