Algieri trainer's fearless forecast: Pacquiao will lose in 10 rounds

MACAU — Chris Algieri's trainer made a forecast that was certainly fearless.

 

A confident Tim Lane said Wednesday that his ward would stop Manny Pacquiao in the 10th round of their scheduled 12-round clash for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title this Sunday at Cotai Arena inside The Venetian here.

 

"10th round stoppage," Lane said without batting an eyelash moments before Algieri kicked off his second to the last workout that serves as the final leg of the biggest, and richest, fight of his entire professional boxing career.

 

Lane, who worked as Algieri's sparring partner during his early days as a kickboxer, opened the training session with a press briefing before changing into his muay attire and climbing the ring barefoot, making him look like a martial artist rather than a professional boxing trainer.

 

And instead of using mitts and body protector, he sharpened Algieri's punches and worked on his coordination using a rolling pin-like equipment with blaring music on the background, giving Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach a good laugh when told about it.

 

"Really?" a chuckling Roach said in a huddle with a handful Manila-based reporters. "They are doing the most ridiculous thing in the world. The fighter is supposed to be hitting the mitts, not the other way around using a roller pin."

 

But Lane was all business when he bared that they are planning to take advantage of Algieri's tremendous ability to launch rapid jabs, something he learned and harnessed as a kickboxer. 

 

"That's what kept him afloat when he won over (Ruslan) Provodnikov," Lane said, recalling his ward's epic comeback from being knocked down twice in the first round of his WBO junior welterweight title clash against the Russian slugger. It was the victory that earned him the right to challenge Pacquiao.

 

"He is a hungry kid. He can easily take care of business."

 

While Lane believes that jabs will key their victory, Algieri strongly believes that his intelligence will overpower Pacquiao's experience on top of the ring.

 

After all, he styles himself as a methodical, thinking boxer who earned a bachelor's degree in healthcare science from Stony Brook University and a master's degree from New York Institute of Technology before plunging into boxing. 

 

"Experience and intelligence are entirely different things," he said, beaming with confidence while sitting on the canvass as he changes into his workout clothes. 

 

"He got the experience, sure. But when it comes to intelligence, the ring IQ and the strategy, I don't even have to prove myself. We have the right game plan to execute. I have my entire team behind me."

 

When someone asked how confident he is in winning the fight, Algieri suddenly stood up, raised his arms as if declaring himself the victor.

 

He didn't need a single word.

 

That's how confident he is. — STR/JST, GMA News