How can Chris Algieri beat Manny Pacquiao?

There is little doubt that Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest boxers in history.

Pacquiao has risen to one of boxing's greatest pay-per-view attractions by frustrating his opponents with speed, power and angles. His unorthodoxed attack has befuddled some of the best fighters of this era, including Oscar de la Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Marco Antonio Barrera and Shane Mosley.

So how can Long Island's Chris Algieri - with zero amateur bouts and only 20 pro contests - be expected to breakdown the eight-time world champion?

With one punch. His left jab.

There is a reason "everything works off the jab," has become a cliche. It's basically true. Algieri can win this fight with his jab.  Here's how:

Disrupt Pacquiao's rhythm

It's hard to look at Pacquiao and decipher his rhythm. He shifts from side to side, pivots in and out of range and throws punches from different angles. His lack of a standard rhythm is his rhythm. This is the only way he knows how to fight, and it's served him well for 63 fights. Take a look at all those fights and it's easy to point out how many of those opponents are better than Algieri. But none of them are like Algieri.

SEE PHOTOSPacquiao-Algieri

Algieri stands 5-10 and has a reach of 72 inches. That's four inches taller and five inches longer than Pac Man. Only de la Hoya (5-10 1/2, 73) and Antonio Margarito (5-11, 73) have enjoyed better physical advantages over Pacquiao. Margarito was a brawling, face-first type of fighter and de la Hoya, it turns out, was shot.

Algieri is neither of those things. His jab is much quicker and longer than most of Pacquiao's recent opponents. That firm jab will be what knocks Pacquiao off his game and his reach will make it that much harder for Pac Man to penetrate with his attack.

In the ring, Algieri projects longer than he actually is. Having a five-inch reach advantage is favorable in itself, but the way Algieri can quickly move in and out of Pacquiao's striking zone only enhances his physical assets. His foot speed and agility enhances the effectiveness of his jab.

Pacquiao is far less reckless

Being sent to the canvas facefirst and getting counted out can make the greatest of warriors pause and reflect. Since his devastating sixth-round knockout loss against Juan Manual Marquez in 2012, Pacquiao takes less chances in the ring.

He doesn't lunge any more or loop punches from precarious positions. Those once were an asset for Pacquiao. They were part of the reason he was so hard to beat.

That he has stopped only favors Algieri and gives him a greater opportunity to control the fight his jab.

If Pacquiao settles into a chess match with Algieri, the Long Islander's jab can carry the day. 

Everything does work off the jab

According to Compubox, in his title-winning effort against Ruslan Provodnikov, Algieri threw 566 jabs and landed 111 of them. Whether it landed or the misses simply impeded Provodnikov, the jab clearly was the difference maker. There were long stretches of that fight during which Algieri's right hand was rendered useless because it was protecting his severely swollen right eye.

Barring another injury like that, in this fight, Algieri will be able to back up his jab with straight right hands. If Algieri gets into a comfortable rhythm of landing his jab and right hand, even the great Pacquiao will have trouble beating him.