Manny takes pity on inexperienced Algieri

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao admitted taking pity on Chris Algieri, whom he knocked out six times en route to a lopsided victory Sunday at the Cotai Arena inside The Venetian Macao in Macau, China.

“Naawa din ako sa kanya (took pity on him),” Pacquiao told a handful of local scribes in his suite a day after flashing his deadly form against Algieri.

The Filipino icon noted the significant disparity between him and Algieri in terms of experience and skill level, which had been evident throughout the fight. Pacquiao knocked down Algieri once in the second round, twice each in the sixth and ninth rounds, and one more time in the 10th canto to complete the landslide victory.

Pacquiao tried his best to take Algieri out, but the American was a tough customer and held on to survive the fight.

“Yung experience kasi niya kulang na kulang tapos isinabak agad. May potensyal sana pero nasabak agad sa mas beteranong boksingero. Kulang pa talaga sa experience. Malayong malayo ang level (He is still inexperienced yet he was already thrown to the pit. Though he has potential, he fought a veteran fighter. He still lacks experience. We’re too far in terms of level)," he explained.

"Talagang buhos ako sa laban na yun, nandun ang killer instinct ko," Pacquiao continued.

While those six knockdowns underscored Pacquiao’s dominance in the fight, his punching accuracy also topped that of Algieri. Pacquiao landed 229 of 669 total punches for a 34 percent connect rate, while Algieri went 108-of-469 for an inferior 29 percent.

Pacquiao likewise dwarfed Algieri in the power punching department, with 187 of 410 power punches finding their target for a 46 percent rate. Algieri for his part, could only muster 212 power punches, landing 80 of them (34 percent).

But if there’s one thing Pacquiao gave Algieri credit for, it was the New Yorker’s toughness.

“Pero matibay talaga eh. Ayaw din magpabagsak. Natutuwa lang ako kasi kahit inexperienced siya, ginawa pa din niya ang makakaya niya para hindi sya bumagsak. Sinubukan pa din nyang gawin ang lahat ng makakaya niya (But he’s really tough. He didn’t want to get knocked out. He impressed me because he held on even though he was inexperienced. He tried his best.)," he said.