Chris Algieri is like a mini Wladimir Klitschko, says Stitch Duran

THERE will be a new member of Chris Algieriโ€™s corner when he fights Manny Pacquiao tomorrow (November 23). After the terrible swelling that closed his eye in Algieriโ€™s last fight, against Ruslan Provodnikov, ace cutman Stitch Duran has joined the team.

โ€œIt was because of the eye. I had known Tim Lane the trainer through mixed martial arts,โ€ Duran told Boxing News. โ€œHe 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. Iโ€™m real happy to be with him.โ€

Duran was working Wladimir Klitschkoโ€™s corner last weekend when the world heavyweight champion halted Kubrat Pulev in Germany. โ€œIโ€™d 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. โ€œHeโ€™s just so disciplined. Everything he does is so systematic,โ€ Stitch said. โ€œItโ€™s a disciplined diet that heโ€™s on day by day by day. Technique-wise he looked tremendous so he really hasnโ€™t lost a beat. He might have picked up a beat.โ€

Duran in fact suggested that he senses echoes of Klitschko in Algieri. โ€œWhen he came to Vegas I attended [Algieriโ€™s] training camps and wrapped his hands every day. I like the kid, heโ€™s a good, good kid. Heโ€™s a nice injection of a good storyline for boxing,โ€ the cutman said. โ€œHeโ€™s like a mini Wladimir. Heโ€™s good looking, not as big obviously, heโ€™s educated but heโ€™s disciplined. Heโ€™s focused and he has a giant heart.โ€

Duran, who is well known for his work in the UFC, continued, โ€œTim [Lane, Algieriโ€™s trainer] is a martial artist, Iโ€™m 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, theyโ€™re very respectful in what they do but theyโ€™re 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 Algieriโ€™s background in kickboxing a disadvantage against Pacquiao. โ€œBoxing people theyโ€™re real funny, theyโ€™re real old school but listen a combat is a combat. When heโ€™s had 20 something fights in kickboxing, heโ€™s been in the ring 20 something times. So itโ€™s 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. โ€œHim being in the trenches that long. Itโ€™s not going to hurt him, itโ€™s going to help him.

โ€œThese guys are athletes and theyโ€™re gladiators, thereโ€™s no difference. I know because I work with all of them.โ€

TO READ MORE ON PACQUIAO-ALGIERI CLICK HERE

For the full Pacquiao-Algieri preview donโ€™t miss this weekโ€™s issue of Boxing News, available via our app on iTunes and Google Play.
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Photo: Chris Farina/Top Rank

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