(From left: Pacquiao, Algieri)
Welterweight champion and future Hall of Fame boxer Manny Pacquiao returns to the ring this Saturday, November 22, in Macau, China. This will be Manny's second fight in Macau in the last two years, as his promoter Top Rank looks to build a Boxing market overseas. Pacquiao had become a mainstay in American Pay-Per View cards for the last 10 years, but tax issues and a willingness to fight closer to his home in the Philippines has factored into his recent desire to fight in China. Pacquiao fought at The Venetian Macau in almost a year ago on November 24, 2013, and then fought in Las Vegas earlier this year against Tim Bradley in April. This particular fight card Saturday is expected to do poor Pay-Per View numbers, partly because of it being in China, but also because Manny's opponent Saturday is unknown to any casual fans of the sport, as are most of the fighters on the undercard.
Chris Algieri is Pacquiao's counterpart Saturday. Algieri is an undefeated 30 year old American from Huntington, New York. Algieri was a kick boxer before he turned to boxing, compiling a perfect record of 20-0-0 in kickboxing. Algieri's professional boxing record is also a perfect 20-0-0, and he has earned his shot to face Pacquiao mainly because of his upset victory over Russian slugger Ruslan Provodnikov. Algieri has a height and reach advantage, and will look to use that size to keep his distance from Pacquiao. He also has a tremendous jab and will look to use that to keep Pacquiao from coming forward and firing off combinations from weird angles, something Pacquiao has perfected over his illustrious career. Algieri is a heavy underdog, and will look to prove himself tomorrow and try to build himself into a star in boxing. A win would certainly help his chances to do that, but Pacquiao's camp has said that this looks like a reinvigorated and fresh Manny Pacquiao. Tomorrow we will see if Pacquiao still has the fire inside of him, or if Algieri can pull a massive upset and launch himself into boxing stardom.
(Photo Credit: http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/563862/20140825/manny-pacquiao-chris-algieri-boxing-news-macau.htm)
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