Chris Algieri never quite escapes his trainer's 'cage'
WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri of the United States watches from the corner during his welterweight title fight against Manny Pacquiao at the Venetian Macao in Macau, Sunda, Nov. 23, 2014. Credit: Newsday / Jeffrey Basinger
The most memorable television moment of Sunday's bout between Chris Algieri and Manny Pacquiao coincided precisely with the fight's most memorable boxing moment.
It was a sudden, only-in-boxing turn of events that was simultaneously brutal and comical.
Pacquiao was well ahead on points as the ninth round wore on, with his strategy of biding his time in hopes of a late knockout already having been discussed and critiqued by the HBO pay-per-view announcing team.
Jim Lampley was the most pointed observer, saying, "If that was really the plan, it has me thinking: What were they thinking? Seriously, give away the first four rounds against the guy who has knockout power when you don't?"
Anyway, back to the ninth round: Max Kellerman conducted an interview from the corner with Algieri's trainer, Tim Lane, even as the action was unfolding inside the ring.
Lane explained that the game plan was for Algieri to keep his distance until Pacquiao began to tire.
"He's going to put him asleep here in a few minutes; I'm going to let him go in one more round,'' Lane said. "I've got him in the cage right now. I'm going to let him out of the cage.''
When Kellerman asked if that meant he would seek a knockout in the last few rounds, Lane said, "Yes, but I've still got him in the cage. He listens to me very well. I'm going to let him loose in another round or so.''
When Kellerman inquired whether that meant the 10th, Lane said it would happen in "round 10 or 11.''
At that exact moment, with 1:22 left in the round, Pacquiao devastated Algieri with a left that Algieri later identified as the one shot that truly hurt him.
"Well, that's going to make it difficult for the plan to materialize,''' Lampley said after Algieri hit the deck.
Algieri avoided a knockout in that round and held on through the final three, but he never escaped the cage the far more skilled and experienced Pacquiao set up for him more effectively than any cage Lane might have imagined.
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
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