Chris Algieri is feeling at home in Macau

MACAU – If Chris Algieri were to rub his eyes hard enough, he could trick himself into believing he’s training back home in New York instead of in a basement gymnasium in Macau.

As he warms up for a session of pad work with trainer Tim Lane on Tuesday, November 18, hip hop music by artists from decades past like Eric B. and Rakim and DMX blares overhead. Reporters from various New York newspapers are also present, having made the trip early in fight week.

If the whole environment feels more like Gleason’s Gym than The Venetian Macau, it’s Algieri who gives the workout session a Chinese feeling, donning a hat that reads “TAO” – a Chinese philosophy defined by Merriam-Webster as “the process of nature by which all things change and which is to be followed for a life of harmony.”

Algieri is at peace, unrattled by the enormity of the event as he prepares to face 8-division champion Manny Pacquiao at The Venetian Macau on Sunday, November 23.

“I’m just being myself. I’m not faking it. This is just me, it just so happens that people like it and I guess that’s just how some things go,” said Algieri (20-0, 8 knockouts), a native of Huntington, Long Island, N.Y. 

Algieri’s small circle numbering less than a dozen watched over his training on Tuesday afternoon, paling mightily to the 300 that Pacquiao flew in on two sponsored AirAsia jets on Monday evening. Since arriving on Friday afternoon, Algieri has been making the rounds of the world’s largest casino and making fans.

“I love fight week; this is exciting. I’m not the kind of guy that wishes for the next day. I want to be in the ring, I love to fight and I think people can see that while I’m fighting,” said Algieri.

Bob Arum, whose company Top Rank is promoting the event, has had the luxury of a well-spoken antagonist to Pacquiao who can shoulder some of the responsibilities of promoting the fight.

“Having Algieri to promote in this kind of fight is a tremendous blessing because he’s articulate, he’s intelligent, you can carry on a conversation with him that involves boxing but also can be of subjects other than boxing,” said Arum, who himself is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y.

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Algieri has had a breakout year so far in 2014, jumping from popular club show attraction in his hometown to upsetting Ruslan Provodnikov in June to win the WBO junior welterweight title. The Pacquiao fight will be Algieri’s first professional boxing match outside of New York (he fought out-of-town several times as a kickboxer).

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach has expressed his opinion that the moment will be too big for Algieri, and that Pacquiao will finish Algieri inside of a single round. 

“What else is he gonna say? He’s reaching,” said Algieri. “He obviously feels threatened and has to say that stuff. I’m not fighting Freddie; I’m fighting Pacquiao. I’m not concerned about the things Freddie says because at the end of the day they don’t matter.”

(WATCH: Pacquiao, Algieri train in Macau)

Algieri, who is promoted by Star Boxing and Banner Promotions, has a rematch clause in his contract should he beat Pacquiao. While he didn’t delve into specifics, he says he intends to get Pacquiao’s respect early with his own punching power, which he feels will be sufficient cause for Arum to utilize that clause.

“I think my style alone, even though I box, it’s an exciting style. I’ve never had someone say my boxing is boring. I’m just gonna go out there and be myself. That’s the key to my victory. I have to go out there and be me,” said Algieri. – Rappler.com