Buboy wary of Manny foe’s power

MANILA, Philippines - Chris Algieri isn’t supposed to be a hard hitter as his record of 20-0, with 8 KOs, indicates but WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s long-time friend and training assistant Buboy Fernandez said the other day he’s not underestimating the unbeaten challenger’s power.

Fernandez has watched Algieri in action on tape and he’s convinced the 5-10 New Yorker isn’t a powder-puff puncher. “Manny has to watch out for his left jab, left hook and right uppercut down the middle,” said Fernandez. “Those are the three things Algieri likes to throw.” The left hook is deadly, added Fernandez, if it connects on the button. So is the uppercut. Pacquiao has to anticipate where the blows are coming from as his defense will be tested when they face off in Macau on Nov. 23.

Fernandez said when backed against the ropes, Algieri reminds him of both Antonio Margarito and Erik Morales, two Pacquiao victims. “Margarito fights back when you push him to the ropes and Algieri does that sometimes,” continued Fernandez. “With Morales, he likes to slip out which Algieri also does. Manny knows how to deal with both styles. So he won’t be surprised whatever Algieri does.”

Asked if the fight will go the 12-round distance, Fernandez said it depends on how fast Algieri runs away from Pacquiao. “If he runs, it will take a little more time to catch him,” he said. “If Algieri doesn’t run, it will take less time. I think Manny’s too quick for Algieri. If Algieri runs, Manny will attack and it will just be a matter of time before he knocks him out.”

Fernandez said Pacquiao is in tip-top shape and will be ready for Algieri when the bell rings. “I arrived in GenSan from Bicol where I live with my family last Sept. 3 and started working with Manny,” he said. “I knew Freddie (Roach) would arrive in the first week of October so I wanted to endorse Manny in good condition. I didn’t want to embarrass myself and hand over Manny to Freddie less than 100 percent in shape. Manny has been working very hard running in the morning and working out in the gym in the afternoon. When Freddie arrived last Oct. 8, he was surprised to find Manny in great shape. In their first workout with the mitts, they went 12 rounds which is amazing. Freddie was very happy.”

Roach himself said he couldn’t be more pleased with Pacquiao’s condition. The other day, he mentioned that Pacquiao scaled about 142 pounds. The welterweight limit is 147 but the Macau fight will be at a catchweight of 144. Roach said he’s confident that if ever Pacquiao wants to drop down to the lightwelterweight class, he can make 140.

Algieri is the WBO lightwelterweight champion and presumably, the catchweight was set to accommodate him as he’s moving up to the next division. It was reported recently that the WBO will vacate the lightwelterweight throne as Algieri is fighting Pacquiao beyond the 140-pound limit.

Fernandez said there is a plan to counter Algieri’s left jab by ducking under it and throwing a counter left while moving to the right. Roach and Pacquiao are working on tactics during mitt work, simulating what Algieri will do and how to put him on the defensive. The key is to stop Algieri in his tracks and that will mean Pacquiao cutting the ring off. If Algieri tries to fight from a distance using his 72-inch reach to advantage, Pacquiao will need to shorten the gap.

“Algieri has his advantages and so does Manny,” said Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune. “So it’s a matter of making your advantages work for you.” Pacquiao brings power and quickness to the table while Algieri will try to stay away from danger zone by boxing from long range. If it turns out to be a tactical fight, the probability of the bout going the full route is high. If Algieri chooses to engage, the bout could end sooner than later with Pacquiao’s power making the difference.