Manny Pacquiao's matchup against Chris Algieri generated groans in some circles because of Algieri's obscurity to most fans, and the fact he's never fought above 140 lbs. before. That said, this fight may be one of the final times Pacquiao's ever seen in the ring.
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According to reports, Pacquiao is planning to hang up his gloves in 2016 so he can focus on a Senate run in the Philippines.
"There's a big possibility that I will run for Senator. UNA (United Nationalist Alliance party) asked me to join its slate and I am grateful they picked me," Pacquiao told DZMM.
That time frame leaves Pacquiao only two or three fights after Algieri if he sticks to it, and further diminishes the dream many have of actually seeing him stand across the ring from Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is slated to take on Marcos Maidana in September.
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However, things could end sooner for Pacquiao if Algieri manages a major upset--Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach is advising fans not to count on that. "His style, he's a bit of a runner," Roach said.
"Pacquiao doesn't particularly like fighting guys who run so much. We'll figure out a way to beat him. It's not a problem. ... He's got a good jab. That's it."
That jab was enough to beat Ruslan Provodnikov in June at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, to the shock of many fans who had never even heard of Algieri before the fight started. He was clocked in Round 1 and sent to the canvas by Provodnikov, then took a knee seconds later as he processed the extreme swelling in his eye.
Despite the 10-7 opening round, Algieri danced around Provodnikov, swollen eye and all, and managed to outpoint him the rest of the way. Now, Algieri is saying that Pacquiao shouldn't underestimate him-despite coming up in weight, he'll still be one of Pacquiao's bigger opponents.
"Margarito was a large guy, but not an athletic guy," Algieri said. "Not a guy who's going to be moving, pushing, pulling, using his jab, reaching. He's a straightforward slugger there to be hit. Manny kills those guys.
"Manny has a lot of fights and a lot of experience, but the string of guys he's fought over the last five, six, seven, eight years are all the same kind of guys. I do believe my style is a problem for him. And he'll be 36 [in December]. It's tough to learn a new style or to deal with something you're not accustomed to, which I wholeheartedly will bring to the table."
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