What Pacquiao needs to do vs Algieri

With an opponent as tall as Chris Algieri, Manny Pacquiao knows that the distance between him and his foe will be an important factor in his title fight. Algieri towers at 5-foot-10 and enjoys a three-and-a-half-inch reach against the 5-foot-6.5 Pacquiao, which is why he intends to use his speed to the hilt. "Algieri's reach and height will require me to work on closing the distance with him in the ring and I will need my speed more than ever to be able to score damaging blows to him while avoiding his own counters,” Pacquiao said in ESPN.com. The eight-division champion admitted that Algieri poses serious risks, such that he considers the New York-based fighter his toughest opponent to date. Aside from his height advantage, Algieri has a boxer-counter puncher fighting style, a strategy Pacquiao finds difficult to address. "Chris Algieri poses many puzzles for me to solve. In terms of his height and reach, only Antonio Margarito surpasses him in the scope of opponents I have faced. Algieri is also the most scientific, fluid and fittest fighter I have ever opposed,” he said. “All of those factors, plus he is five years younger than me, make him the most dangerous opponent of my career.” For Pacquiao, he must impose his will against Algieri to succeed. “I do not intend to fight Algieri's fight. I intend on fighting my fight and more importantly, making him fight my fight,” he said. “This will be a battle of wills as much as it will be a battle of blows. There will be a lot more going on in the ring than fans will realize, and it will be fast and it will be exciting.” The bout is scheduled to take place in Macau on November 22.