Pacquiao hints fight won’t go 12 rounds

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Manny Pacquiao will never say he’d knock out Chris Algieri in public. But in an unguarded moment Monday night, the eight-division world champion hinted at cutting short their 12-round duel for the WBO welterweight title on Nov. 23 in Macau.

After resting following the day’s three-hour training session, Pacquiao emerged from his office at the function hall of the Pacquiaos’ new mansion here and approached Manila-based sportswriters and a photographer at the sala while swinging and stretching both his arms.

Pacquiao, flexing the bulging muscles of his tattooed left arm, then muttered: “Twelve rounds nga pala ang laban (The fight is for 12 rounds). Mahaba (It’s long). Dapat six rounds lang (It should only be six rounds).”

If it (the knockout) happens, it will please not only chief trainer Freddie Roach but also his horde of fans.

After all, Pacquiao hasn’t scored a knockout since he stopped Miguel Cotto in the 12th round for the WBO welterweight title five years ago. Roy Luarca