Chris Algieri of the U.S. falls as he takes a punch from Manny Pacquiao (left) of the Philippines during their World Boxing Organization (WBO) 12-round welterweight title fight at the Venetian Macao hotel in Macau November 23, 2014.(MNS photo)
MACAU (Mabuhay) – A day after carving out an impressive win, Manny Pacquiao admitted feeling a tinge of pity for Chris Algieri.
Pacquiao, a seasoned boxer who plucked the crowns in eight different weight classes, revealed that the inexperience of Algieri doomed the American fighter’s chances in their World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title fight Sunday at the Cotai Arena inside The Venetian here.
The Filipino champion noted that from start to finish, Algieri could do nothing but run, duck, and absorb the heavy punches that Pacquiao unleashed.
“Naawa din ako sa kanya,” said Pacquiao in his luxurious hotel suite moments before flying out of this Asian gambling capital on one of the two chartered AirAsia flights to General Santos City where a hero’s welcome awaits him.
“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.”
Pacquiao, who became the toast of the town after winning over a long line of legends that includes Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, dominated the 30-year old Algieri and pushed him to the brink of a complete destruction after knocking him down six times, one of the most in the history of professional boxing.
He downed Algieri once in the second round, twice in the sixth and ninth rounds, and once in the 10th.
The most devastating blow came in the ninth round when Pacquiao unloaded a wicked left hook that landed on Algieri’s jaw.
“Talagang buhos ako sa laban na yun, nandun ang killer instinct ko,” he said, trying to remember every single moment of what he branded as one of his most memorable fights of his career.
“Pero matibay talaga eh. Ayaw din magpabagsak. Natutuwa lang ako kasi kahit inexperienced sya, ginawa pa din nya ang makakaya nya para hindi sya bumagsak. Sinubukan pa din nyang gawin ang lahat ng makakaya nya.”
Pacquiao’s business adviser Mike Koncz said it is only normal for Pacquiao to have difficulty downing a bigger foe like Algieri because he is quite small in his weight class.
“What people don’t really understand, especially the casual boxing fans, is that we’re fighting in a weight class much higher than our natural body weight,” said Koncz, speaking on behalf of Pacquiao.
“So these guys are big, these guys are strong, they are used to the power punches. Anytime we fight in the welterweight division, we’re easily giving up 20 to 30 pounds. And that’s a big advantage to his opponent.”
Algieri is such an easy foe. His only call to fame was when he outpointed Russian slugger Ruslan Provodnikov after being knocked down twice last June to wrest the WBO light welterweight crown.
That victory won him the right to face Pacquiao and to take home the biggest purse of his career – a cool $1 million.
But against Pacquiao, the good-looking, clean-cut Algieri looked like a schoolboy being clobbered by a grizzled warrior.
“Naawa talaga ako sa kanya eh. Pasuntok pa lang ako, pailag na sya.