Manny Pacquiao breaks top contender Viktor Postol's nose in sparring
The Philippines icon is showing terrific form ahead of his fight against Chris Algieri, hurting Mike Jones and WBC number one-rated contender from Ukraine in training in General Santos
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has been gobbling up his sparring partners, leaving a top contender with a broken nose and another hurt as he stepped up preparations for his highly-anticipated welterweight showdown against American Chris Algieri in Clash of Cotai II next month in Macau.
Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) is sparring with highly-regarded welterweight Mike Jones and current junior welterweight contender Viktor Postol, two tall fighters who fit the style of the unbeaten Algieri, who will be hoping to clinch Pacquiao’s WBO (World Boxing Organisation) welterweight title on November 23 at the Cotai Arena in the Venetian Macao.
The thing is I have my number one contender from Ukraine [Postol] and he’s a very good boxer and he could beat Algieri right now
The Philippine superstar, who was in Hong Kong on a three-day promotional visit, hurt Jones last week in training, and then left Postol, the No 1 contender in the junior welterweight division, with a broken nose in training at Pacquiao’s Wildcard Gym in General Santos last Friday.
Trainer Freddie Roach is not taking 30-year-old Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs) lightly, saying he is using three good sparring partners to get Pacquiao in top physical condition for the showdown set at a catchweight of 144 pounds.
Still, the American coach continues to knock Algieri, saying Ukrainian Postol would beat Algieri “right at this moment”.