MANILA, Philippines – Newly minted WBO welterweight champion Chris Algieri wants Manny Pacquiao’s head.
And he’s willing to hunt Pacquiao at whatever weight class the Filipino prefers.
RELATED: Provodnikov conqueror looms as Pacquiao foe
The 30-year-old Algieri, who recently scored the biggest win of his career in upsetting Ruslan Provodnikov for the title, said he’s ready to meet the boxing icon at any weight division – even at a catchweight – pointing out that he’ll be at an advantage either way.
"I could go either way. I could go at 140 or 147. Making 140 was not a problem. That didn't hinder me. I can make the weight. I'm 30 years old and I'm not going to outgrow the weight class,†the New York-born fighter told Lem Satterfield of ringtv.com.
Algieri (20-0, with 8 knockouts) got up from a first round knockdown to outbox the heavily favoured Provodnikov and hack out a split decision victory. The win set him at a good position for a crack at Pacquiao, who returns to action this November in Macau.
At 5-foot-10, Algieri is way taller than the 5-foot-6 Pacquiao, something the American said will work to his advantage if they ever meet in the ring.
"At the same time, I think that I have the height and reach at 147 and I've got a significant height and reach advantage on Manny anyway. So, at 147 or at 140, catchweight, it doesn't make a difference," he explained.
Algieri will be a heavy underdog against Pacquiao, a champion in eight divisions whose speed still poses a problem to opponents. But like the Provodnikov fight, Algieri will again embrace being less favored.
"I think that they maybe won't think that I stand a chance so much but apparently, I'm good in those fights. I would like that fight. That's the top of the sport, the top of the heap and I would think that anyone who had that opportunity would say that they want that fight too. I wouldn't fight anybody I don't think that I could beat,†he stressed.
Freddie Roach earlier declared that Pacquiao can handle Algieri, although the trainer has doubts on the American’s marketability for now.
But Algieri insists he has the tools to pull off another upset, this time against Pacquiao.
"I think that, stylistically, it's a good fight for me. I think that if we were to make that fight happen and if I were to prepare the right way and have everything go similar to how this preparation went for Provodnikov, that I would be ready for a Manny Pacquiao fight this year," he further said.