Roach downplays Algieri's height advantage over Pacquiao: 'It's not basketball'

Unbeaten American fighter Chris Algieri has been trying to convince the world that his height will play be key against Manny Pacquiao in the November 23 fight.

 

The 5-foot-10 Algieri is expected to tower over the 5-foot-6 Pacquiao come fight night. But the height difference doesn't bother the Filipino's trainer, Freddie Roach, at all.

 

"Personally, I don't think height means anything. Hey, it's not a basketball game. It's a fight," Roach told the Star Ledger.

 

"Sometimes a guy who fights like Manny can make people get shorter in a hurry. I look at Algieri and I give him 100 percent off guts. You have to if you saw his last fight."

 

Roach was referring to Algieri's gallant win over Ruslan Provodnikov, which saw the New Yorker come back from two opening-round knockdowns to score the victory.

 

Algieri has also made pronouncements about his underrated punching power. That doesn't bother Roach, either.

 

"He is not much of a puncher. Don't think he could break an egg and he's very hittable. As an opponent, that's good for our side," says Roach.

 

"I know [Algieri's trainer] Tim Lane says he will hurt Manny and hurt him bad. But I don't see how or with what. He just doesn't have any tools for that." — JST, GMA News