The question of exactly how durable Chris Algieri (20-0, 8KOs) will be in his bid against Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38KOs) on November 22, 2014 in Macau, China is one of the more enticing features of Pacquiao vs. Algieri. However, the way that the Algieri camp, headed by Algieri trainer Tim Lane, chose to reveal itself felt more Sideshow Bob than simple press exercise last week at the Century City Hyatt Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
The rundown by camp Algieri of their modus operandi was straight revivalist preacher with a none-too-sparing touch of that new age black magic. Replete with magic stones, healing bracelets, social diversion and a heaping helping of perky can-do attitude, the end result was at times more Circus Circus than Macau Venetian. Was it a successful press conference for team Algieri? Yes, most definitely.
But can he deliver that kind of fan catnip style excitement inside the ring? That is the real question as well as the key to the overall success or failure of Algieri, for himself in the fight, and for fans as an opponent for Pacquiao. To Algieri’s credit, for the first time the folks that count seem to be prepared to wait for the answer to that question – which is no small coup if Chris can deliver the upset, underdog victory once again versus this fight’s Goliath, Manny Pacquiao.
Last week in LA, the first major indication of Algieri’s new status as a real contender was simply how he he handled himself at the press conference, as well as how Top Rank handled him. An unruffled Algieri fielded questions in a down to earth but well considered fashion. The young fighter was relaxed as he regaled all with stories of being repeatedly overlooked by the powers that be, fighting to be noticed and forced to run after publicity and fights with an abandon that made him a natural go-to guy for the matchmakers if not the promoters.
“I was like yeah okay, I’ll fight him. I had no idea who it was or whatever,” Algieri said. “I was a matchmaker’s dream. I got my shot finally with the ESPN fight with (Emmanuel) Taylor… I told them, if they open the door a little bit, I’m kicking it down.”
He now finds himself as professional boxing’s next giant slayer du jour, having vanquished the feared “Russian Rocky” Ruslan Provodnikov, and now in preparation to fight Pacquiao.
Ttrainer Tim Lane began to explain the secret to he and Algieri’s success as forming Algieri into a “master boxer”. “That means that you have wiped out everything about boxing that you think you know,” Lane said. “This is a strategic battle just like chess… It works if you think all the time… subconsciously Chris is programmed and he will be a master boxer every single second of that fight.”
Larry Merchant, patron saint of contrarians, then posted this question – “Do you think people want to spend $70.00 to watch a chess match?”
After a response from Lane, Merchant then continued, “You are describing this as a chess match. Your own metaphor… And I’m giving $70 dollars, do I want to watch a chess match, or do I want to watch serious competition?”
That’s what fight fans have to figure out as well when it comes to Pacquiao vs. Algieri.
Merchant wasn’t wrong in suggesting that there were some inherent inconsistencies in Lane’s overall plans for Algieri, with so much time and focus being placed on the “Law of Attraction”, which on any type of closer inspection lack greater substance. The idea is the somewhat simplistic belief that “like attracts like” and that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring about a positive or negative result. Every boxer in the history of his sport has known that he has to believe in himself to perform at his best, of course. However, if Lane and Algieri’s positive thinking can continue to change the gravitational pull of Algieri’s career in an up facing trajectory, more power to them.
More troubling to the prospects of Algieri’s chances against Pacquiao are the fact that promoters Artie Pelullo and Joe DeGuardia are seemingly just as impressed with his ability to be smart and survive, then be a dominant fighter. In the big picture, these tools alone will not a future master fighting career make.
Speaking of the Provodnikov fight, Pellulo said, “He fought a guy that nobody wanted to fight… in the first round he got hit with an electric shot he went down…. the instinct is to fight back… Provodnikov was all over him so what does he do? He takes a knee. That was smart… he’s already lost the round…I turned to my people, I said this kid is going to win this fight…so I got to tell you it’s going to be a great show.”
Later, Joe DeGuardia didn’t really do Algieri any favors letting it be indirectly known that while he believes that Algieri is a winner, it might be a no-win situation if things require more brawn than brains.
“We made the fight Ruslan Provodnikov on HBO… He goes into the fight. Gets dropped twice in the first round. His eye closes completely he looked worse than Rocky in the movies,” DeGuardia said. “Fights the whole fight with one eye and beats the most feared fighter in the industry, Ruslan Provodnikov. Because he’s a winner. He’s got that winning mind.”
Nevertheless, for the type of enduring champion Algieri is looking to become, there’s got to be more than just the mind and survival to win. Why? Because enduring champions, while winning the fights they are supposed to lose, must also cease to be the underdog versus a threat like Pacquiao. Survival alone, no matter how cunning, just isn’t the ideal of being amongst the very best in the world.
Even if his team might not get that, Algieri does. “You can’t not be physical in this sport,” he said. “People talk about power and things like that but you gotta be strong in there. I don’t care who you are. Anybody who’s in there winning fights at the highest level is got to be strong and it’s a physical sport as much as it is mental.”
As for Pacquiao, it would seem that he is prepared to combat a real adversary in the ring on November 22nd. Pacquiao does not intend to make the misstep by mistaking any wolves for unassuming sheep.
“He (Algieri) showed his toughness in his last fight with Ruslan,” Pacquiao said, talking of former sparring partner Provodnikov. “He got knocked down twice in the first round and he came back and he stands today. So he deserves this fight… I won’t underestimate him. I have to prepare myself 100% because it’s been awhile…the fans of Manny Pacquiao want to see a killer instinct.”
And thankfully, there is nothing vague or mysterious about that. But will that killer instinct be put up against a fighter looking to survive, or a fighter truly coming to win? Time will tell.
