Manny Pacquiao's Opponent On Filipino Boxer: 'I Knew What I Can Do'

A past opponent of Manny Pacquiao claims he could have fought better during their fight.

New York’s Chris Algieri was the WBO world welterweight champion when he faced the Filipino legend Pacquiao in 2014. He was an undefeated fighter with a record of 20-0 coming into the fight. However, “Pacman” out-boxed him for 12 rounds and handed him his first loss. Five years later, Algieri thinks that he could have done better during the said fight.

In a special interview with Boxraw, Algieri revealed that his grandfather introduced him to boxing when he was still a kid. According to the former champ, he grew up wanting to become a “hero” like Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr. and Oscar De La Hoya.

“I grew up just around that,” Algieri said about hearing stories about Tyson, Jones Jr. and De La Hoya.

“As a little kid sittin on my grandfather’s lap, hearing about great fighters, I was like ‘man this guy is my hero’, I wanna be those guys,” Algieri added.

When Algieri finally became a champion, he crossed paths with Pacquiao. At the time, the New Yorker thought he was “indestructible” and was planning to keep his momentum going as an undefeated champ.

“My mind going into the Pacquiao fight was as high as I could be, I was 20-0, I was a world champion,” Algieri recalled.

However, Algieri realized that there’s more in boxing than being just an undefeated fighter in the hands of Pacquiao. Ever since the said loss, Algieri admitted that he now has more respect for Pacquiao than when they first met inside the ring.

“I had a lot of respect for Manny Pacquiao, I think I have more respect now than I fought him,” Algieri admitted.

In the end, Algieri hinted at a possible rematch with Pacquiao by claiming that he knew what he was capable of doing and had he prepared properly for the fight, the outcome could have been different.

“That time maybe I was a little young and dumb, didn’t understand what was going on but I was super confident, I knew what I can do,” Algieri pointed out.

Pacquiao is set to return to boxing next year. Ahead of his comeback, Mikey Garcia has already presented his case as the legend’s next opponent. However, Garcia said that “nothing is secured” as of the moment as Pacquiao is “still busy with his political obligations” back in the Philippines.

“We’ve been discussing about Manny for a long time now. It seems like it’s very close that it can actually happen,” Garcia revealed.

“Nothing is secure. He’s got some obligations and duties with political government of the Philippines right now. He’s still busy with that,” Garcia continued.