Pacquiao sees fight vs Mayweather next year, ready to face Algieri in Macau

HONG KONG/GENERAL SANTOS CITY – World boxing icon Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao said he hoped to finally step in the ring with undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year.
“I’m crossing my finger that this will finally happen in 2015,” said Pacquiao, adding that he has a couple of years more to fight before retiring.
Pacquiao made the statement during the promotion in Hong Kong of his fight with American Chris Algieri at the Cotai Arena of the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Macau on November 22.
This developed as Pacquiao’s famed American trainer Freddie Roach wants Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao to deliver a knockout when he faces Chris Algieri in a 144-pound title fight.
In an international conference call, Roach said he wants to see a knockout (by Pacquiao), the same sentiment expressed earlier by the Filipino’s longtime adviser Michael Koncz, sports analyst Ronnie Nathanielz reported.

The last time Pacquiao won by a stoppage was when he scored a 12th-round TKO over Miguel Cotto in November, 2009.
Roach and Koncz statements were bolstered by Pacquiao’s strong showing during sparring sessions with Mike Jones and undefeated Ukraine toughie and world No. 1-ranked Viktor Postol.
Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) has stepped up training following the arrival of Postol, with Roach claiming that Postol, Jones and lightweight Stan “The Man” Martyinouk, “has featured the best sparring partners of Pacquiao’s career.”
Roach earlier stated that the sparring partners were better than Algieri, who has an unbeaten record of 20-0 with 8 knockouts.
Roach and Pacquiao said they are not taking Algieri lightly considering that he is taller and has longer reach and is known for his jabs.
Pacquiao said he had practiced hard on techniques to counter Algieri’s known advantage.
Pacquiao was mobbed by his supporters during the promotional trip to Hong Kong, according to promoters.
Meanwhile, American Timothy Bradley said Pacquiao and fellow American Floyd Mayweather Jr. will have even chance in case their mega fight happens.
Bradley said he used to favour Mayweather but after clashing with Pacquiao twice, he changed his mind and thought the match will be pretty even.
‘’I think that the fight is a little more even now. I’m gonna have to favor Floyd Mayweather because he’s just brilliant in his boxing ability but you can’t take anything away from Manny Pacquiao,” said Bradley in On The Ropes Boxing Radio and reported by ABS-CBN.
Bradley first fought Pacquiao in 2012 where he shocked the Filipino champion with a controversial split decision win over the Filipino champion.
The fighting congressman got his revenge two years later by outclassing the American, reclaiming the WBO welterweight title via a unanimous decision.
“I’m not trying to blow smoke up my ass but I’m a really difficult fighter to deal with and Manny Pacquiao was able to deal with me, and if Manny Pacquiao is able to deal with me, he’s able to deal with anybody else, I truly believe that,” said Bradley.
Bradley said Mayweather may be a defensive specialist, but he thinks it would be hard to evade Pacquiao’s punches all the time.
“Manny Pacquiao throws punches in combinations, punches in bunches, so I think the fight is kind of evenly matched,” said Bradley.
Bradley also noted that Mayweather seemed to have been losing his reflexes, while the Filipino fighter has become a more cautious fighter.