Chris Algieri 'doesn't belong in same ring' as Manny Pacquiao, says ex-champ

You can add former two-division world champion Randall Bailey to the growing list of Chris Algieri doubters. 

 

Since the official announcement was made, many fans and media alike gave the undefeated New Yorker little to no chance of beating Filipino fight icon Manny Pacquiao in their scheduled bout at Cotai Arena at the Venetian Hotel in Macau on November 22.

 

"It's just a fight for Pacquiao. The guy has limited skills," said the 39-year-old Bailey, who previously held world titles at 140 and 147 pounds, of Algieri. "He's not in the same level and does not belong in the same ring."

 

Relatively anonymous just two fights ago, Algieri (20-0, 8KOs) made his name when he defeated heavily-favored Ruslan Provodnikov for the WBO world light welterweight title by split decision this past June. Algieri had to overcome two knockdowns in the opening round before finding his rhythm to successfully outbox the Russian slugger. Movement, jabs and right hands ultimately did the job for Algieri as he walked away with the title after fighting for twelve hard rounds.

 

Bailey, however, does not see the same scenario playing out against the Filipino pound-for-pound superstar. "Provodnikov was his first big fight, a guy that comes forward," said Bailey. "If Pacquiao comes out the way he's supposed to fight then either the referee stops it or his (Algieri) corner does."

 

Algieri earned $100,000 in his fight against Provodnikov and is reported to have been offered around $1.5 million to fight Pacquiao. Because of this career-high payday, Bailey thinks that Algieri may have very well taken the fight for the purse alone.

 

Despite the Filipino now being 35 years old, Bailey still believes that Pacquiao will be too much for Algieri to handle.

 

"He's been in a lot of tough fights. It's just a matter of time before his body wears down from all the training, press cons and build ups. Algieri is no Antonio Margarito nor Timothy Bradley. The fight is made for Pacquiao" said Bailey. — JST, GMA News