Algieri says Pacquiao 'shorter and smaller than I expected'

 

Chris Algieri had never met Manny Pacquiao before the two men embarked on a worldwide press tour to hype their November 23 fight.

 

The unbeaten American, who stands six feet tall, was surprised at the size of the Filipino ring icon.

 

"He was shorter and smaller than I expected," Algieri told Boxingscene.com.

 

But while he has the height advantage, Algieri will be fight his first match above junior welterweight (140-lbs.) to contend for Pacquiao's welterweight title.

 

The fight was set at a catchweight of 144-lbs., but Algieri made it clear it was the Pacquiao camp that set the stipulation.

 

"I'm the bigger man any way you slice it. It doesn't matter what weight we fight at, I'm just a bigger guy than Manny, and that's painfully evident during the whole press tour. I'm a boxing purist, I wanted the fight to be at 147. It's a welterweight fight and welterweight limit is 147. Let's make it there," said Algieri.

 

"They chose to have it at 144. But like I said, it doesn't matter where we fight. At the end of the day it's not going to be my size that's going to be the difference in this fight." — JST, GMA News/Photo by Jayson Niño Otamias