Manny Pacquiao will be an overwhelming favorite against Chris Algieri in their upcoming showdown, but the Filipino boxing icon's assistant trainer, Buboy Fernandez, is wary of their opponent's boxing skills.
Fernandez said that they are aware that Algieri isn't known to be a power puncher, but the longtime assistant trainer pointed out that Pacquiao will be in a dangerous situation if he underestimates Algieri in their Nov. 22 fight in Macau.
"Manny has to watch out for his left jab, left hook and right uppercut down the middle," Fernandez said in an interview with The Philippine Star. "Those are the three things Algieri likes to throw."
Algieri, who holds a perfect 20-0 record with eight knockouts, is also known for his jab, but Pacquiao's camp is confident that they can neutralize it by maximizing the reigning pound-for-pound king's speed advantage.
Fernandez said that they have been preparing well for the fight and Pacquiao will not be surprised with Algieri's style, saying that it is similar to fighting styles of Antonio Margarito and Erik Morales, who both lost to Pacquiao before.
"Margarito fights back when you push him to the ropes and Algieri does that sometimes," Fernandez said. "With Morales, he likes to slip out which Algieri also does. Manny knows how to deal with both styles. So he won't be surprised whatever Algieri does."
When asked if he expects the fight to go the distance, Fernandez said that it depends on Algieri's willingness to engage as long as Pacquiao will not become too complacent.
If Algieri decides to run a lot in the upcoming fight, the fight could go the distance. But if he decides to stand toe-to-toe against Pacquiao, he believes they will win via an early knockout.
"If he runs, it will take a little more time to catch him," Fernandez said. "If Algieri doesn't run, it will take less time. I think Manny's too quick for Algieri. If Algieri runs, Manny will attack and it will just be a matter of time before he knocks him out."
Pacquiao, who has a 56-5-2 record with 38 knockout victories, will defend his World Boxing Organization welterweight title that he reclaimed via a unanimous decision win against Timothy Bradley in their rematch in April.
