Photo edit by Keystone Boxing/RBRBoxing
On Saturday, November 22, 2014, Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) and Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) face off in a championship clash live from The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena in Macau, China.
Promoted by Top Rank and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Banner Promotions and Tecate, the Pacquiao vs. Algieri Welterweight bout will be shown live on HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 pm, EST.
Pacquiao will be defending his WBO Welterweight crown against the undefeated Algieri, but the fight will take place at a 144-pound catch weight.
Algieri–a massive underdog–will be looking to shock the world against the Filipino legend, but according to Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach, Manny is condifident this fight will be over in one round.
Read on for RBRBoxing’s staff predictions for Pacquiao vs. Algieri and let us know who you think will win.
[yop_poll id=”88″]
[table id=1 /]
Jessie Vargas
vs.
Antonio DeMarco
Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
I like the undefeated Jessie Vargas to win. Vargas needs to be careful not to take his eye off the ball as he looks ahead to a potential fight with Manny Pacquiao.
To win, Antonio DeMarco is going to have to use his power and hope to catch Vargas, hurt him and put him away. Vargas is too slick to allow that to happen and will use this fight as a springboard to bigger matchups in the future.
Prediction: Vargas
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
It’s hard to believe that Antonio DeMarco is only 28. It feels like he’s been fighting forever. He’ll try to defeat Jessie “Let’s Go To The Cards!” Vargas by turning the bout into a firefight.
Really, that’s the only way he wins this fight. DeMarco is solid enough, and he’s got good pop. He’s been stopped twice, once by Adrien Broner and before that he was nearly killed by Edwin Valero.
Vargas cannot punch with anywhere near the power of those two, but he’s a good boxer with way less mileage on the tires. They’re dangling a possible Pacquiao fight in front of him (which is sickening, but that’s for another time) so he’ll be bringing the A game. The pick here is Vargas by decision.
Prediction: Vargas
Brandon Glass, Contributing Writer
Jessie Vargas has come a long way since leaving the Money team to fight with Top Rank. Not. The kid can scrap (former Olympian and WBA champion at 140), but he’s defensively limited and he’s still not getting the kind of big fights I thought he would by leaving Mayweather Promotions.
Wins over a faded version of Vivian Harris and quintessential sparring partners like Stevie “Two Pound” Forbes aren’t going to cut it. There was Josesito Lopez, but nah, we saw how that turned out.
Antonio DeMarco is a former champion at 135, who lost two phenomenal talents that could punch in Edwin Valero (deceased) and Adrien Broner. He’s a known puncher, solid pressure fighter, and has an edge in experience and pedigree. He blew through John Molina in less than 30 seconds of the first round of his second defense of a WBC lightweight strap he won by stopping Jorge Linares.
After losing to Broner though, he’s been active but barely visible. This will be the kind of fight that action fans love. I think this is a pick ’em, but hey a I’m a risk taker. I’ll take DeMarco by stoppage over Vargas.
Prediction: DeMarco
Lauren Pinkerton, Staff Writer
Jessie Vargas is a bit newer to the game than Antonio DeMarco, which I’m hoping means he’ll be lighter on his feet and more powerful with his punches.
His trainer is Roy Jones Jr., which looks pretty good on a resume, too. I don’t see a knockout coming from this, but I do think we’ll see Vargas outsmart and out-punch DeMarco.
Prediction: Vargas
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Jessica Vargas’ new trainer–the legendary Roy Jones Jr.–says that he sees something special in his new pupil. I’ve been waiting for years to see that “special” come out of Vargas. Unfortunately, I think we’ve pretty much seen as good as it’s going to get for Vargas.
He’s got good boxing ability and athleticism, but not much power, coupled with some suspect defense. At the end of the day, even though I don’t think he’s a star in the making, I think Vargas is too quick and too big for Antonio DeMarco who is more of a blown up Lightweight.
Prediction: Vargas
Manny Pacquiao
vs.
Chris Algieri
Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
I like Manny Pacquiao to win, more than likely by decision. Pac Man has not had a knockout since November of 2009, but what he does have is the speed, experience and the boxing resume to do away with a fighter like Chris Algieri.
Up until his last fight, the list of Algieri opponents was largely unknown. However, in fairness, Algieri did prove in his last fight against Ruslan Provodnikov that he can both take a punch and get up off the deck.
The first round was a disaster, yet he used his legs and quick combinations to pull off a big time upset over the monster Provodnikov. He has heart, guts and he’s an intelligent man. He deserves all of that at the very least.
Nevertheless, I expect Pacquiao to earn the win although I believe that the fight might not be as easy as so many think it’s going to be.
Prediction: Pacquiao
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
Chris Algieri “earned” this fight by defeating Siberian psychopath Ruslan Provodnikov earlier this year. It’s fitting that in one of the worst years of boxing in recent memory, the last major fight of the year involves a guy who is two bouts removed from ESPN Friday Night Fights.
Nothing against Algieri, who seems like a decent enough guy, but we’ve been force fed the notion that Algieri’s height and reach will pose major problems for Manny, despite the fact that at Welterweight, Pac Man is almost always going to be the shorter, less rangy fighter.
Pacquiao, unless he’s seriously deteriorated since his ass beating of Tim Bradley, should absolutely destroy Algieri. In fact, he might get his first stoppage win in five years if he keeps his foot on the gas. Manny by beatdown.
Prediction: Pacquiao
Vincent Nolasco, Contributing Writer
This matchup between the Pac Man, Manny Pacquiao, and Chris Algieri should be an entertaining fight. Yes, I mean it.
I expect it to be a very good from the start to the middle rounds. However, entering the late rounds it will be a stoppage from one of the corners.
Pacman will start the match by displaying his great footwork, hand speed and combinations. Algieri will use his lateral movement and showcase his reach and utilize his jab to keep the combinations off from Pac Man.
In the middle rounds, Pacquiao will start to close the distance, connect with heavy combinations coming from many angles and simultaneously use his great footwork to confuse Algieri. However, Pacquiao must be aware of Algieri’s height and reach throughout the fight. Algieri’s has good power in his jab and this could hurt Pac if he’s not careful.
In the late rounds, it will be clear which fighter is in control of the bout and which fighter understands that he needs a knockout to win the bout. This is where talent and boxing ability will take over.
Prediction: Pacquaio
Brandon Glass, Contributing Writer
I can’t lie, I don’t much care for this fight. No disrespect to Chris Algieri, he’s certainly upset Ruslan Provodnikov’s applecart to fill this spot–deservedly so–with the legend, the congressman and pro Filipino basketball *coughs* star Manny Pacquiao.
On one hand, I think there is some decline in Pac’s ferociousness, as Tim Bradley declared before their rematch in April of this year. Is it religion? Is it that the legend and future hall of famer has taken on too much responsibility? These questions are still unanswered as it’s been five years from last Friday since his last stoppage.
On the other hand, I can’t help but wonder based on the rekindling of talks from both sides about a Mayweather fight being in the works, if this is a precursor for that mega fight (that everyone claims they’re over but still cares enough to have an opinion about)?
Unfortunately for Algieri, he’s still an afterthought or possibly the last man between Pacquiao and the boss of the last level, in the rumored school yard fight that everyone will rush to the playground to see after the bell.
I would call him Algieri a great white hope, but Gerry Cooney was more accomplished than Algieri when he faced Holmes. Also, Pacquiao is no villain; he’s beloved by the boxing world–for the most part. Algieri’s got the makings though. Obviously he’s white, American, skilled, good looking and making a name for himself. The perplexing part is that he is getting more doubt, some would even call it hatred, than I would expect for a fighter fitting this profile looking at boxing historically.
Progress? Maybe. I’m a cynic though.
Algieri’s style resembles Mayweather’s, still; Algieri is neither experienced nor as instinctively inclined as the sport’s top draw and villain. He’s not much of puncher either. This will be a battle of speed. I think Pacquiao is still the faster of the two. Pacquiao via sixthth round TKO.
Prediction: Pacquaio
Lauren Pinkerton, Staff Writer
The sheer records of the two boxers should speak for itself. Manny Pacquiao has knocked out 38 opponents, while Chris Algieri has seen 20.
Regardless of the fact that Chris has yet to be beat, he’s just not smart enough for the Pac Man. I think he’s in over his head here.
Sure, he surprised us all by beating Ruslan Provodnikov, but now he’s just getting cocky. To keep this short and sweet, bottom line, there’s a reason we fantasize about a matchup between Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao, and not Mayweather vs. Algieri.
Prediction: Pacquaio
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
This matchup seemingly came out of nowhere. Even after Chris Algieri squeaked by Ruslan Provodnikov with a razor-thin decision earlier this year, there was nobody–and I mean nobody–that was calling for Algieri to get a shot at Manny Pacquiao.
But, here we are, staring at a questionable matchup via pay-per-view. We’ve seen Algieri and Pacquiao hold hands and cuddle throughout the promotional build up, but come fight night fists will be flying. Pacquiao is said to be predicting a knockout, so it’ll be interesting to see if he throws caution to the wind early on in the fight.
Remember, Provodnikov got to Algieri early on and turned his eye into a replica of Epcot, so Manny may elect to come out and see if Algieri can handle his pressure.
If Pacquiao rattles Algieri early on I think he’ll do what he must to put the undefeated New York heartthrob away. Regardless of how it happens, Pacquiao wins this one easily.
Prediction: Pacquaio
