Arum: Algieri Could Become Huge - If He Beats Pacquiao

By Edward Chaykovsky

Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum sees big things for WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) - if Algieri is able to beat Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) on November 22nd at the Cotai Arena in the Venetian in Macau, China.

Algieri faces Pacquiao at a catch-weight of 144-pounds for the Filipino star's WBO welterweight crown.

Before the June fight with heavily favored Ruslan Provodnikov, Arum picked Algieri to pull off the upset. And Algieri did just that, coming off the floor in the first round to win a twelve round split decision to capture the WBO title.

If Algieri once again pulls off the upset, Arum expects him to become an instant superstar in the sport.

"Commercially, if you beat somebody like Manny Pacquiao, particularly someone as media friendly and so crowd friendly as Algieri, he would instantly be a huge attraction in the sport of boxing," Arum said.