Manny Pacquiao outdueled Chris Algieri in Macau (Photo: Chris Farina – Top Rank)

By Chris Robinson

While he wasn’t ringside in Macau checking out the action on first hand basis, longtime boxing analyst Larry Merchant still was able to appreciate Manny Pacquiao’s dominant decision victory over Chris Algieri on Saturday.

From within the Venetian Resort’s Cotai Arena, Pacquiao was extremely sharp, dropping his younger counterpart six times on his way to a lopsided unanimous decision win.

Pacquiao did as he pleased in the fight, with his speed, movement, and power all being a little too much for Algieri.

“I thought that Manny looked excellent,” Merchant concurred. “He’s still motivated to get into peak condition. He was faster than the younger guy; just as he out boxed Timothy Bradley in his previous fight.”

What would Merchant like to see from the Filipino icon, who still shows himself to be hungry and dangerous as he eyes a 36th birthday next month.

“I want to see him fight the best opponents available and he’s certainly done that throughout his career,” Merchant noted.

The public is once again showing interest in Pacquiao facing off with rival Floyd Mayweather, a match that has been seriously discussed as far back as 2009.

Merchant still has a mild desire to see the dream showdown but thinks the timing may be off

“Of course it interests me,” Merchant admitted. “But I’m not a guy to ask about it. People have asked me about that fight for five years and I’ve been wrong all the time.

“I keep pointing the example of Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson; they didn’t fight late in their careers, until the economics made sense,” Merchant added. “I guess somewhere inside me I believe that could happen, maybe after Mayweather’s six-fight deal with Showtime expires. There are two more fights left on it I believe. But for now it seems not in the telescope.”

Chris Robinson can be reached at CRobinson@hustleboss.com