Manny Pacquiao's upcoming title fight with WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri is almost exactly one month away, but that hasn't stopped Pacquiao from pursuing other interests outside the ring.
Pacquiao recently made his debut in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Kia Sorrento, for whom he serves as a player-coach. Although he played for just seven minutes, and said he won't play again until after his November 22 pay-per-view fight, Algieri was reportedly annoyed that Pacman risked injury.
"I don't know if it's arrogance or just silly and stupid," Algieri said. "During the press tour, I actually got on a horse at one point. As soon as I got up there, I was like, 'This is a bad idea. This is a bad idea because I'm getting paid after the fight.' I don't know if it's the smart thing to do, but ... "
The fight is the biggest of Algieri's career; he's slated to earn a $1.5 million purse, his largest ever. Against Ruslan Provodnikov Algieri's purse was just $100,000. That would be lost if Pacquiao got hurt, so a miffed Algieri said that as long as he avoids injury he isn't interested in Pacquiao's personal choices.
"A lot of people ask me about his basketball and if that's what he chooses to do, that's fine," Algieri said."As long as he doesn't get hurt, I don't really care." Pacquiao turned the ball over twice in his limited action, and Kia won 80-66 over Blackwater Elite.
Pacquiao's performance against Algieri will be impactful. He continues to clamor for a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., while his trainer Freddie Roach has hinted at moving down to junior welterweight to challenge Danny Garcia.
None of that is possible if Pacquiao is upset by Algieri though.
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