Julaton expects tactical fight

MANILA, Philippines - Former two-time WBO/IBA female superbantamweight champion Ana (Hurricane) Julaton anticipates a tactical fight when WBO welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao takes on unbeaten challenger Chris Algieri at the Cotai Arena in the Venetian Resort Macau this morning and predicts a decisive win by the Filipino icon.

Julaton, 34, is training in Las Vegas for her mixed martial arts bout against Egypt’s Walaa Abbas in a ONE FC blockbuster card at the Mall of Asia Arena on Dec. 5. She is scheduled to arrive in Manila on Dec. 1 with coach Ricky Lundell and trainer Angelo Reyes.

“Definitely, Manny will win,” said Julaton in an e-mail to The Star. “Hard to say how it will happen. I anticipate a very tactical fight from both. Manny winning via a unanimous decision would be a popular choice but I always believe Manny has the chance to score a knockout and with coach Freddie (Roach) predicting a first round knockout for Manny, anything can happen.”

Julaton isn’t impressed with Algieri’s five-inch reach advantage and four-inch height edge. “Height and length can be an advantage in the ring but Manny’s speed, footwork, punch combinations and experience can counter Algieri’s size,” the Fil-Am said. “I think a knockout will happen for Manny if Algieri doesn’t use his footwork effectively. It’s tough to fight in bigger weight classes for fighters and I think what Manny has been showing in his fights is high-level boxing skills. I don’t think Manny has slowed down or lost his ‘killer’s instinct.’ He has the ability to box against bigger and taller opponents which takes skill. On the other hand, Algieri has footwork, length and punching combinations but lacks the caliber of experience that Manny has.”

Julaton said there are three key factors that will determine the outcome of the match. “First, who will dictate the pace of the fight,” she said. “Second, mental endurance and third, experience.” Pacquiao has logged 63 fights since turning pro in 1995 or 13 years before Algieri’s debut. Algieri has figured in only 20 fights. The New Yorker’s quality of opposition is suspect and perhaps, his only credible victim was Russian Ruslan Provodnikov from whom he wrested the WBO lightwelterweight crown on a split 12-round verdict last June.

Julaton, however, said Provodnikov is no Pacquiao. “No disrespect for Ruslan but he’s not Manny,” she said. “Their speed is different, their footwork is different. Their punching sequences are different in speed and timing. The experience levels are not the same. Manny is a southpaw and Ruslan uses a conventional stance, they are just completely different fighters. It will be a great fight and anything can happen but if Manny knocks Algieri down, it will be a big test for Algieri to recover from that. Algieri is a great fighter but he has never fought anyone in the same caliber of Manny.”

Algieri was floored twice by Provodnikov in the first round and to his credit, he survived to last the distance. His right eye began to swell as early as the second round and at the final bell, he could hardly see from it. But Algieri was undaunted. He showed a big fighting heart and gained the nod of two of the three judges.

As for Pacquiao getting on in years, Julaton said it doesn’t show. “I think Manny gets better as he gets older and since his opponents are always ‘gunning’ for him, he has to evolve and keep getting better in order to win,” she said. “Age can be an advantage in fighting as long as the body is healthy because experience is built and the mentality gets stronger.”

Julaton said she’ll be cheering for Pacquiao from Las Vegas. She delivered this message to the defending champion, “Manny, I know you will go out there and do your very best and give our global Filipino nation another fantastic performance…thank you for continuing to inspire us all.”