Pacquiao returns to Macau for next fight

Pacquiao, who won back his World Boxing Organization welterweight title April 12 with a 12-round unanimous decision win over Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden, will face Chris Algieri Nov. 22 at the Venetian Resort Macau’s Cotai Arena. It was in that ring last Nov. 24 that Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 knockouts) soundly defeated Brandon Rios to stop a two-fight losing streak after losing to Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez the year before.

The scheduled 12-round fight will be for Pacquiao’s belt and will be televised on HBO Pay Per View. Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs), will be moving up in weight after winning the WBO junior welterweight title June 14 in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center with a 12-round split-decision victory over Ruslan Provodnikov.

“I wanted this fight,” Algieri said. “This will change my life once again and I welcome the future. We have worked hard for these opportunities and we are more than ready.”

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who is Pacquiao’s promoter, said Pacquiao’s popularity from the Rios fight and the proximity to his home in the Philippines made Macau an easy choice for this fight.

“We’ve got a great relationship with the Venetian and Manny had a great experience last year in Macau,” Arum said. “We’re expecting a sellout and this is going to be our first pay-per-view venture in mainland China, so it’s a big event. China is an emerging market for boxing and you need a superstar like Manny to attract fans to the sport.”

Arum said Pacquiao will make approximately $25 million. Algieri is expected to make a little over $1 million but Arum would not confirm that number.

There had been discussions of a fifth meeting between Pacquiao and Marquez. But when Marquez decided not to take the fight, the attention turned to Algieri, a 30-year-old former kickboxer from Huntington, N.Y. who is promoted by Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing and turned professional in 2008. Algieri had not been in a high-profile fight until he faced Provodnikov last month and was fighting for a world title for the first time.

It looked like it was going to be a short night as Provodnikov knocked Algieri down twice in the first round and had him in trouble in the second round. But Algieri regrouped, started to find his rhythm and boxed his way back into the fight. He did enough good work that two of the judges saw it his way despite the tough first round.

“Algieri’s win over Provodnikov was impressive,” Arum said. “He’s got an interesting life story. He’s a college graduate. He’s bright and articulate. I think he’ll give Manny a good fight.”

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.