By Victor Salazar
New York, NY - Former world champion Chris Algieri linked up with trainer John David Jackson after he was shut out versus Manny Pacquiao at the tail-end of 2014. The result was a valiant effort against Amir Khan this past May, when the New York native lost a twelve round decision. Now Algieri returns against Erick Bone this Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on the undercard of the middleweight showdown between Danny Jacobs and Peter Quillin.
Though he wanted a bigger fight, Algieri wanted to remain active in hope for a stronger 2016.
“I thought I would have fought sooner,” Algieri told the media at the final press conference on fight week. “It’s been disappointing in that sense. But I’m in the ring before Khan. That tells a lot about where we are in our careers. 2016 is going to be a huge year. I’d like to keep it rolling in 2016.”
Jackson's tutelage was on display in the Khan fight and some in the media say Algieri’s fight with Pacquiao may have gone a different route if he had a more experienced corner.
“I think if I just fought my fight I think the fight would have been much difference,” Algieri said. “But being in camp with John, yeah I think the fight would have been different. Having John in a high profile fight, it would have been great. No one on my team was ever on that level and there was no one to look to. He is a calming influence. Him and I, we see eye to eye on many things. Our personalities kind of mesh well.”
Being in the ring with both Pacquiao and Khan, Algieri feels the British star is a tough fight for Pacquiao coming off surgery. He injured his right shoulder during the May loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Pacquiao has spent the last few months rehabbing the shoulder.
“I think timing-wise fighting Amir Khan post-shoulder surgery for the first guy back is a tall task. I think at his best Pacquiao wins but timing is everything. He looked less hungry versus Mayweather than he did versus me. But if he brings that hunger, I got Pacquiao,” Algieri said.
