Manny Pacquiao's next opponent and PPV date are now set. On November 22, Pacquiao will return to Macau, China and HBO PPV where he will face Chris Algieri. Pacquiao comes in to this fight on a two fight win streak, having bounced back from his 2013 KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez with wins over Brandon Rios and Timothy Bradley.
Algieri (20-0; 8 KOs) had been fighting mostly lower-mid tier opponents until his June 2014 HBO fight with Ruslan Provodnikov. What was set up as a showcase fight for Provodnikov didn't work out according to plan, as Algieri took home the upset win via split decision. With that one win, he elevates himself from largely unknown status to a PPV date with one of the sport's top 2 draws.
The big question that casual fans always ask about Pacquiao and Mayweather opponents is "Is this guy legit and does he have a shot here?" And sorry to say, the answer this time is no. It's boxing, and anything can happen, but unless Pacquiao comes in to the ring significantly more deteriorated in his skills than he did against Bradley, this should be an easy fight - probably his most routine win since Shane Mosley in 2011. Again, anything can happen, but don't expect this to be a fight that gets fans excited for what could happen.