By Edward Chaykovsky

According to Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao's upcoming defense of the WBO welterweight title will determine if the boxer is going to remain at 147-pounds of drop down to the junior welterweight limit of 140-pounds.

Pacquiao will face undefeated WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri at a catch-weight of 144-pounds on November 22nd in Macau, China.

The last time Pacquiao scored a stoppage victory was in 2009, when he put away Miguel Cotto in the twelfth round.

Roach is going to examine Pacquiao's performance against Algieri. If the eight division champion feels stronger and performs well at the catch-weight, then Pacquiao may fully head down to campaign at 140.

"When you are fighting a 147-pounder and you only weigh 135 yourself or 140, you are in there against much stronger guys and Manny only has two knockouts as a welterweight and he has a lot of knockouts at 135 and 140 and the thing is this is a catch-weight of 144, and if he feels good at 144 we may go to 140 again.  At 140, he will be a better puncher than at 147 because the guys are smaller and not as strong," Roach said.

Pacquiao has only had one fight at 135 and 140. He knocked out David Diaz to capture the WBC lightweight title in 2008 and then his next fight took place at 147. He dropped down for a single fight at 140, in 2009, when he scored a brutal knockout over Ricky Hatton.

But Pacquiao is a very small welterweight. Last week he already weighed in at 143-pounds, one pound under the contracted catch-weight for next month's fight.