Pacquiao out to deliver flurry of power punches

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — A day after his trainer told him to knock Chris Algieri in the first round, Manny Pacquiao seems eager to make Freddie Roach’s wish come true.

The Filipino champion said he has been trying to perfect some solid shots, hard ones, which he plans to deliver in flurries when he meets Algieri on Nov. 22 at the Cotai Arena in Macau.

After doing pad work with Roach, Pacquiao told reporters the other day he plans to bring the fight immediately to Algieri and bomb him with power shots.

His training was geared to that direction

“Lahat ng binitawan kong suntok ay puro power punches,” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao’s knockout drought already spans over five years and Roach is growing impatient but nevertheless feels the long spell will end in 10 days. During that period, the Pacquiao camp said the boxer will win by knockout. It never happened.

So when asked when he last knocked out an opponent, he sidestepped the query and asked one instead.

“Ano sa tingin mo?” he said. And then without skipping a beat, answered his own question. “Handanghanda na ano?”

Whether Pacquiao is right or wrong, he and Algieiri will know on fight night.

Algieri, however, remains unfazed.

“I have the tools and talent to win this fight. I just have to go out there and be myself,” said Algieri,

He will arrive with an undefeated record and holding a title, but oddsmakers make him a heavy underdog against the Filipino who has long been one of the biggest attractions in boxing.

And he will do it largely unknown to all but the most avid of boxing fans. (With a report from AP)