- Title: BOXING-PACQUIAO Pacquiao, Algieri confident ahead of showdown in Macau
- Date: 19th November 2014
- Summary: MACAU, CHINA (NOVEMBER 19, 2014)(REUTERS) MEDIA CONFERENCE AHEAD OF 'CLASH IN COTAI II' PHILLIPINE BOXER MANNY PACQUIAO GETTING UP TO SPEAK
- Embargoed: 4th December 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- City:
- Country: China
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA579QEDM7OD9M3OKYKEM3QC1HB
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- Story Text: Manny Pacquiao and Chris Algieri vowed to do their talking in the ring ahead of their WBO world welterweight title fight on Sunday (November 23) in Macau.
Pacquiao is nearing the end of his career, but could still end with a bang by finally fighting Floyd Mayweather.
The pair have long been mooted to meet in what would be one of boxing's biggest ever paydays.
For that fight to happen, 35-year-old Pacquiao has to keep winning, and in Algieri will meet an undefeated opponent.
The 30-year-old American has won all 20 of his fights, but hasn't fought anywhere near the class of his Filipino opponent.
In his first title fight, down at light-welterweight earlier this year, he clambered off the canvas to beat Ruslan Provodnikov on a split decision, but that was in New York.
On Sunday he will be far from home, and Pacquiao is likely to be far less forgiving.
Pacquiao will defend the title he regained against Timothy Bradley in April, avenging one of only five career losses.
He lost against Bradley in June 2012, and when he was stopped in his very next fight by old rival Juan Manuel Marquez, there were fears his career could be on the slide.
But Pacquiao bounced back with a win against world-rated Brandon Rios before out-pointing Bradley to gain a measure of revenge over the American.
And he believes he has struck a rich vein of form not seen since his younger, all-conquering, days.
"I believe it's going to be an exciting fight on Sunday," Pacquiao said on Wednesday (November 19) ahead of his clash with Algieri at the Venetian Macau.
"And all I can say is that it's all set. We did our best in our training. My team is very happy in this training camp because they see, they remember back in those old days when I was young.
"The speed and the power and the determination and the aggressiveness is there and I'm very excited for Sunday for this fight. And I believe, I know, my opponent has trained hard for this fight and excited to win this fight but I won't let that happen."
During a low-key news conferece, Algieri sounded equally as confident.
"Now we're here to do work," he said.
"The talking is done, the training is done. I'm not going to say too much, but I prepared very well, I'm excited for this weekend. It's going to be a great show. Make sure you guys come or tune in, you don't want to miss this."
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