Manny Pacquiao (L) from the Philippines and Chris Algieri of the U.S. give thumbs up during a news conference at Venetian Macao
Manny Pacquiao (L) from the Philippines and Chris Algieri of the U.S. give thumbs up during a news conference at Venetian Macao in Macau August 25, 2014. Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight title against Algieri at the Venetian's Cotai Arena in Macau on November 22, 2014. Reuters

Manny Pacquiao is calling it as it is.

The Filipino boxer branded his next opponent, the undefeated Chris Algieri as an "okay" boxer as he puts his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title up against the clean slate of Algieri that will be held on November 23, 2014 at Macau.

"I saw his fight with Ruslan. He took a lot of bad punches from Ruslan but he is tough. He can box. I am not saying he is really good but he is not bad. He is OK". Pacquiao told reporters of his assessment of the American opponent during the press conference while announcing the date of the fight.

Both fighters faced the press during the weekend in a first of six stops to promote the upcoming bout that began in Macau and will include key cities such as Shanghai, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. The American is banking on his latest impressive bout -- a major upset victory over Russian Ruslan Prodvonikov via split decision, but Pacman and his camp are not impressed.

World class trainer Freddie Roach believes that Prodvonikov won over the New Yorker last June and that his ward's next opponent got beat pretty bad. He, however, recognizes that Algieri's height and reach could pose a problem for the eight division world champion, who gives up about 3 inches to his opponent.

Daily Mail reports that Pacquiao acknowledged that his next opponent would be more agile as compared to Brandon Rios, his last opponent. He added that has to use the full strength of his speed and footwork to spell trouble for the American. Pacman won convincingly over Rios during the last match that was also held in Cotai Arena, the venue for the upcoming match-up.

Algieri is vowing not to make the same mistakes he did against Prodvonikov, when he started aggressively in the early rounds and not taking his time to study his opponent.

"First round, I made a mistake", said the New Yorker. "Paid for it for the next 11-and-a-half rounds. Got a little too aggressive, too early against a very dangerous guy".

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