MACAU – “He can run but he can’t hide.”
This is the stern warning of Manny Pacquiao’s chief trainer Freddie Roach to undefeated WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri.
As Algieri claims that his ring smarts will be the difference-maker in Sunday’s fight here at Cotai Arena inside The Venetian Macao, Roach dismissed him as just another wannabe who will kiss the canvass once he gets a feel of Pacquiao’s power.
“He’ll run to try to confuse us. But we’ll catch him,” Roach told a small group of reporters as Pacquiao tapered off his light training just a few days before his second bout here at the gambling mecca of Asia.
Algieri claimed his spot to challenge Pacquiao for his WBO welterweight title when he came back from two first round knockdowns to beat the Filipino boxing champion’s former sparring mate Ruslan Provodnikov last June to win the junior welterweight title.
“Manny Pacquiao is no Ruslan Provodnikov,” Roach said.
The 54-year-old trainer explained that Provodnikov blew his last couple of fights, especially his last bout against Algieri, because of lack of experience.
“He’s just a young fighter. He didn’t know what to do when he scored two knockdowns against Algieri,” Roach said.
“When Manny knocks him (Algieri) down twice, he knows what to do. Believe me. He’s an eight-time world champion. He’s at a much higher level at this point than Ruslan,” added the six-time Trainer of the Year.
Roach said he’s pissed off with Algieri’s cockiness that he wants him out in just one round.
“I don’t like him (Algieri) because he’s too cocky,” Roach said.
Pacquiao has not scored a knockout since 2009 against Miguel Cotto, but Roach vowed that the drought will end on Sunday.
“The explosiveness is back. He’s (Pacquiao) doing really strong heavy bag work. We’re back to what we used to do – five, six, seven heavy bags everyday,” Roach said.
The Hall of Fame trainer is backing up his claim with a challenge.
“If you want a proof to that, I’ll give you my body protector and let’s see if you stand more than 30 seconds, I’ll give you a thousand dollars,” Roach said.
Algieri might want to give it a try.
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Editor's note: Philstar.com's special coverage of the Manny Pacquiao and Chris Algieri fight is made possible by Cebu Pacific Air, why every Juan flies.