Chris Algieri knows that most boxing analysts are already counting him out in his upcoming showdown against Manny Pacquiao, but the reigning World Boxing Organization light welterweight vowed to silence his critics.
Algieri, who will face WBO welterweight champion on Nov. 22 in Macau, said in an interview with BoxingScene that he will be fully prepared to score an upset win against Pacquiao.
Algieri insisted that he will fight to win as he is not contested with just getting his $1-million guaranteed first purse, which will be the largest paycheck of his career.
"Mark my words, I'm coming in fully prepared and I'm sure Manny knows this and Freddie knows this as well. I'm coming to win this fight, I'm not here to get a payday, I'm not here just to fight Manny Pacquiao," Algieri said.
The 30-year-old champion, who is coming off a split decision win against Ruslan Provodnikov in June, said that people who are already counting him out doesn't know him very well.
Mexican boxing icon Juan Manuel Marquez, who knows Pacquiao very well after engaging in four exciting bouts before, recently predicted a knockout win for his Filipino rival.
"He barely has a chance to win," Marquez said of Algieri. "Algieri is strong and he's durable. He has also has boxing ability, as he's shown against Ruslan Provodnikov - but he doesn't have the style to beat Pacquiao, who has great speed and power."
Algieri, who was a relatively unknown fighter before his breakthrough win against Provodnikov, holds a 20-0 record with eight knockout victories. The Huntington, New York native pointed out that he was also counted out before, but he managed to prove his doubters wrong.
"I was an underdog against Emmanuel Taylor. I was an underdog against Ruslan Provodnikov. Everyone was saying I didn't belong in there. Obviously I proved I belonged to be there," Algieri said. "People are saying I don't belong to be in with Manny. You will see on November 22nd that I belong to be there. I'm gonna go out and be me and if I'm me, to a 100%, I'm gonna win that fight."
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