Pacquiao to avenge Provodnikov’s defeat to Algieri

Manny Pacquiao is in fighting form for Saturday’s bout with Bradley. Photo by Chris Farina / Manny Pacquiao official Facebook page

MANILA — Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao has a special goal in mind when he fights little known Chris Algieri of the United States on November 22 in Macau, China.

“Aside from being the challenge due to Algieri’s size and fighting style, this is also an opportunity for me to avenge the defeat of my friend and former sparring partner, Ruslan Provodnikov,” Pacquiao said in a www.philboxing.com report.

The undefeated Algieri (20-0) upset Provodnikov (23-2) via a split decision to win the WBO junior welterweight title last June 14.

Last Wednesday, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank announced that both camps of Pacquiao and Algieri agreed to a November 22 fight.

Pacquiao (56-5-2) said he is ready to fight Algieri, a counterpuncher, “as long as it is okay with Bob Arum.”

Algieri is four inches taller compared to 5-foot-6 Pacquiao who previously defeated bigger opponents like Brandon Rios, Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto and Oscar Dela Hoya, all big names in boxing.

The 30-year-old American fighter has also five inches reach advantage.

Pacquiao, 35, has bounced from devastating sixth round knockout loss to arch rival Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico on Dec. 8, 2012, beating Rios on Nov. 11 last year and Timothy Bradley last April 12 to regain the WBO welterweight crown.