MACAU—The punch rate did not actually improve, it just got more accurate.
Promising an increase in the volume of punches being thrown by Manny Pacquiao, trainer Freddie Roach made the eight-time world champion do more work with the mitts at the gym.
Roach also brought in sparring partners with busy, rangy styles like Viktor Postol and Sta Matryniouk.
Their efforts obviously paid off in Pacquiao’s mastery of Chris Algieri on Sunday.
The already quicker and busier Pacquiao overwhelmed and knocked down the bewildered Algieri six times en route to one of the most lopsided championship bouts in years.
Displaying impressive accuracy, Pacquiao threw a total of 669 punches and landed 229 for a 34 percent clip.
Despite reach advantage
Algieri fired 469 shots, but only connected on 108 for 29 percent, despite enjoying a five-inch reach advantage.
Pacquiao’s power shots were even more devastating as he landed 187 for a lofty 46 percent conversion rate.
Algieri, who was forced to back-pedal most of the time, delivered 212 but only made 80 for 38 percent.
In the past, Pacquiao ran down opponents with the sheer volume of his punches.
He threw over a thousand punches against Antonio Margarito and Joshua Clottey, but wasn’t as accurate then.
Now, his heavy shots are right on target. And they definitely hurt the outclassed Algieri.