THERE will be a new member of Chris Algieriโs corner when he fights Manny Pacquiao tomorrow (November 23). After the terrible swelling that closed his eye in Algieriโs last fight, against Ruslan Provodnikov, ace cutman Stitch Duran has joined the team.
โIt was because of the eye. I had known Tim Lane the trainer through mixed martial arts,โ Duran told Boxing News. โHe offered me the opportunity to work with him. I jumped on it and here I am. Chris, right off the bat realised, like he said, there was a chink in the armour and we now fixed it by bringing in Stitch. Iโm real happy to be with him.โ
Duran was working Wladimir Klitschkoโs corner last weekend when the world heavyweight champion halted Kubrat Pulev in Germany. โIโd never seen Wladimir so happy to see that knockout. But it was a good night, it was good to see him as strong as he was, being as effective as he was and he took a couple of shots that he withstood. So I think it answered a lot of questions,โ Duran said.
Pulev had riled the Klitschko before the fight and Duran remains deeply impressed with the champion. โHeโs just so disciplined. Everything he does is so systematic,โ Stitch said. โItโs a disciplined diet that heโs on day by day by day. Technique-wise he looked tremendous so he really hasnโt lost a beat. He might have picked up a beat.โ
Duran in fact suggested that he senses echoes of Klitschko in Algieri. โWhen he came to Vegas I attended [Algieriโs] training camps and wrapped his hands every day. I like the kid, heโs a good, good kid. Heโs a nice injection of a good storyline for boxing,โ the cutman said. โHeโs like a mini Wladimir. Heโs good looking, not as big obviously, heโs educated but heโs disciplined. Heโs focused and he has a giant heart.โ
Duran, who is well known for his work in the UFC, continued, โTim [Lane, Algieriโs trainer] is a martial artist, Iโm a martial artist. Our mentality is different from the boxing mentality. The boxing mentality is still very old school but if you go into any mixed martial arts gym, theyโre very respectful in what they do but theyโre very knowledgeable in what they do. Tim to me is extremely special.โ
CLICK HERE TO WATCH FOOTAGE OF ALGIERI TRAINING WITH TIM LANE
So Stitch does not consider Algieriโs background in kickboxing a disadvantage against Pacquiao. โBoxing people theyโre real funny, theyโre real old school but listen a combat is a combat. When heโs had 20 something fights in kickboxing, heโs been in the ring 20 something times. So itโs not like he only has 20 boxing events. Getting hit and taking pain, the mental aspect, the preparation, everything is all really the same,โ he said. โHim being in the trenches that long. Itโs not going to hurt him, itโs going to help him.
โThese guys are athletes and theyโre gladiators, thereโs no difference. I know because I work with all of them.โ
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Photo: Chris Farina/Top Rank