Roach: Yes, Algieri’s hollow

MACAU—Freddie Roach yesterday stressed sternly that Chris Algieri has got no chance whatsoever of scoring an upset on Sunday.

Just the same, the famous boxing trainer pleasantly welcomed a good-luck wish.

You don’t need one, Roach was told.

He paused, stared blankly, and smiled again worry-free. Roach has become doubly convinced Algieri is not in Pacquiao’s level, a point he has been stressing since Day One.

This was in yesterday’s Media Round Table for the “Clash In Cotai II.” Tim Lane, Algieri’s main handler, announced that his unbeaten fighter would spring a shocker on Sunday.

Told about this, Roach dared: “So let them do it.”

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Roach said he honestly could not find any sane reason how Algieri could win.

Did he think the Algieri handlers were being greatly deluded?

Roach nodded. He could not see how the opponent’s camp has developed incredible optimism, although the worthiness they’ve assigned on Algieri was obviously only a product of fertile imagination.

He said he had studied every angle and possibility, while admitting this reporter’s observation that the Algieri  bout promoters have succeeded in selling was basically a product of fiction.

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Roach did not have to take a second look at Algieri after he first announced that the tall American could not break an egg.

At this point, Roach was told what a group of Manila media men, regulars in Pacquiao fights, had observed on Wednesday when Algieri made a public workout in the hotel gym here.

He was told that Algieri’s shadow-boxing and mock attacks on a trainer holding an odd implement only succeeded in displaying poor balance and shallow punching.

Do you think he’s holding back or concealing something? He is hollow, Roach stated firmly.

Roach did not say it, but it seems Algieri could stand a chance on Sunday only if the dumb boxer who worked out in the hotel gym last Wednesday happened to be an impostor.