Byrd: If Algieri Boxes Smart, Capable of Beating Pacquiao

By Edward Chaykovsky

Former heavyweight champion Chris Byrd is giving undefeated Chris Algieri (20-0, 8KOs) a good shot to defeat WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on November 22nd at the Venetian in Macau, China.

Algieri is a lot taller and also longer, with a good jab and he knows how to boxing from a distance. If he put those attributes to good use, as he did against Ruslan Provodnikov in June to capture the WBO junior welterweight crown, then Byrd gives him a very good shot to win.

Byrd himself was a pure boxer at heavyweight. He didn't have the power or the size, but often bean much bigger men with his boxing ability and speed.

"I love Manny Pacquiao but Algieri is 5’11 and Manny is 5’6. If Algieri can keep his height and range, slow the fight, make it boring, make his man reach, we have a fight here. The only thing about Algieri is he’s not a puncher where he’s gonna go looking for a knockout, he’s used to going the distance. He’s the kind of guy that if he’s winning and he’s up front, he’ll just continue boxing all the way through, he’s not gonna take any chance, he’s not that kind of boxer. If he’s doing well, I think he just keeps boxing his way to a victory," Byrd told On The Ropes Boxing Radio .