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RON KATZ TALKS PACQUIAO VS. ALGIERI: "CHRIS WILL USE HIS PHYSICAL ADVANTAGES...HIS SPEED IS GOING TO SURPRISE PACQUIAO"

By Percy Crawford | July 25, 2014
RON KATZ TALKS PACQUIAO VS. ALGIERI:

"That's a no-brainer. I mean, there is no higher level. There are two lottery tickets in boxing and that's Mayweather and Pacquiao and he plugged one of 'em. And if he is able to do to Pacquiao what he did to Provodnikov, then forget about it; generations of Algieri's will be set financially...I love the matchup. I love the style matchup. I think Chris will use his physical advantages and I think his speed is going to surprise Pacquiao. I think Manny is still a very good fighter, there is no doubt about it, but he's not the same Manny from 3 years ago and I really love the matchup," stated Ron Katz, matchmaker for Star Boxing, who talked about a number of their fighters, including Demetrius Andrade, Emmanuel Taylor, and Chris Algieri's November showdown with Manny Pacquiao. Check it out!

PC: Congratulations on Emmanuel Taylor's win over Karim Mayfield last Friday night. What did you think of his performance?

RK: Considering everything that Emmanuel had to go through with his wife delivering the baby early Thursday morning and him not being up here and then scrambling around, I thought he started off slow and Karim started off a little better and then he got into a little flow. He did a good job. He had a little bit of bump in the road in the 8th round. I thought it was a solid fight. I actually thought it might turn out to have a little more action that it did, but it was competitive and interesting, so I wasn't unhappy. I thought he did a good job.

PC: I was impressed to see both Taylor and Mayfield take the fight against one another because it was a must-win for both guys. You being the matchmaker over at Star Boxing, what was the thought process behind matching Emmanuel tough after the Chris Algieri loss?

RK: Guys like Emmanuel and Karim, when they are at these points in their career, they have to fight the higher level fighters in order for them to raise their own level and give themselves a chance, as well as us and the promoter a chance, to make some money. These are the types of fights they have to do, and not only them, but other guys in similar positions. Karim Mayfield is no easy task for anybody. He has a difficult style and he's a solid guy with a winning mentality. He was just in with a better guy.

PC: Demetrius Andrade is another guy you guys have. He is willing to fight anyone, but I don't know if anyone is willing to fight him. Is it difficult to match a kid like him who is tall for the weight class, a southpaw, but can switch and has a great skillset?

RK: Always difficult matching a guy like that, but once that type of fighter obtains a certain level, which Demetrius has and is getting even bigger and allowing guys to make money and fight him, it becomes a little easier to make big fights with him. The money is going to be there and that's what it's all about. On the way up, certainly a lot more difficult, but now that he's a world champion, it makes it a little easier.

PC: He wants the Alvarez and Lara type of fights. Is it difficult keeping someone like him reeled in while those fights become available?

RK: I think he has an understanding of the business and where he stands in the business and what he needs to do to make himself more attractive to not only the networks, but also potentially a lead opponent. He's well on his way and he's getting very close.

PC: After the Ruslan Provodnikov fight and you were contacted to make the Manny Pacquiao fight happen, was it a no-brainer or were you thinking, get the kid a few more fights before putting him on such a big stage?

RK: Nah, that's a no-brainer. I mean, there is no higher level. There are two lottery tickets in boxing and that's Mayweather and Pacquiao and he plugged one of 'em. And if he is able to do to Pacquiao what he did to Provodnikov, then forget about it; generations of Algieri's will be set financially.

PC: When you secured the fight with Provodnikov, were you a little surprised by the fact that no one gave Chris a shot in that fight?

RK: Absolutely not. I was actually very strong in making the match and I knew that Chris would elevate his level of play and that his style would be a nightmare for Provodnikov, who I consider a very tough, tough... I don't wanna say club fighter, but that level fighter. And if you stand there and fight with him, you're gonna have a rough night. Now he has improved his skills dramatically with Freddie working with him, but he's still the kind of fighter that a guy like Algieri can play with, which he did outside of the 1st round.

PC: He is huge for the weight class. Is he gonna have any trouble making a catch weight fight with Manny?

RK: It's always a struggle for these kids, you know, especially with somebody that big, but yeah, he makes it no problem; 44, no problem, 47, no problem. He is 30 years old also.

PC: What were your thoughts when Teddy Atlas basically told the New York fans to shut up so that he could interview Chris?

RK: I didn't hear it because I was in the back. They were probably Cletus Seldin fans. There is a real rivalry there between Algieri and Seldin. Both are our fighters from Long Island. They should have probably shown a little more respect (laughing), but fans are zealous and they get caught up in the moment and they love their guy Cletus Seldin, who is gonna be a terrific TV fighter. The guy is like the Hebrew Gatti. We are expecting great things from him.

PC: Pacquiao will bring a much different style than Provodnikov, but Algieri will still enjoy a nice height and reach advantage. How do you see this one playing out?

RK: I love the matchup. I love the style matchup. I think Chris will use his physical advantages and I think his speed is going to surprise Pacquiao. I think Manny is still a very good fighter, there is no doubt about it, but he's not the same Manny from 3 years ago and I really love the matchup.

PC: You have been in this game for a long time matchmaking. Is it difficult now to put together a great fight card and make fights happen?

RK: It's very difficult than what it used to be because of the lack of talent around and the lack of availability of fighters. It's not like the old days. It really has nothing to do with the promoter wars and network wars, but it's just the amount of fighters, the availability of good fighters, it's just not there like it was.

PC: Is there a fight that you put together and it just never happened for you?

RK: Umm, yes, one; Bernard Hopkins and James Toney. I just could never get it together.

PC: Was it because of the weight class difference?

RK: No, it was just one of those things for whatever circumstances. That's a match that I always wanted to do and just couldn't get it done; one of the few.

PC: I appreciate your time Ron and I wish you and all of your guys the best of luck. Is there anything else you want to add?

RK: No Perc, that's good. I think we covered everything. Thanks my man!



[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]

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