Chris Algieri On Meet ‘n Greets With Eva Longoria, Sly Stallone, Mike Tyson

You know us as TSS, but I get the ways of the world today, and sometimes, every now and again, bow to the times, and pretend we are TMZ.

Such as when I got Chris Algieri on the phone, and pressed The Huntington Heartthrob about a rumor that’s been making the rounds: namely, that the 30-year-old WBO 140 champion has been seeing starlet Eva Longoria.

What about it, sir, are you canoodling with the “Desperate Housewives” star, philanthropist, producer and cookbook writer?

“False,” Algieri said with the rapidity he delivers that left jab which he believes will keep Manny Pacquiao off balance when they glove up Nov. 22 in Macau. “We had dinner. I met her at a charity event at the Venetian (in Las Vegas), in the VIP meet ‘n great section. She’s a big boxing fan. We talked about her charity work, her cookbook. But we have not dated.”

They chowed at Tao, and, he said, it was swell session. And…And…Anything juicy to report, sir? Throw this TMZ, er, TSS editor a bone, man.

“I’m not saying a word,” the boxer said, showing some of the resolve which he believes will be a difference-maker in the leadup to the Pacman showdown, and on fight night.

OK, there will be no kiss n tell….will you see her again?

“It’s in God’s hands,” he said, tongue seemingly planted in cheek.

The boxer is actually in talks to put out his own cookbook, which will incorporate his brand, “Champion Lifestyle,” and will discuss eating like a champ, if you are a boxer or a regular Joe or Jane. Yes, it’s a heady time for the 20-0 hitter, who reported that he had a thrill of a lifetime in meeting Mike Tyson at the Venetian recently, where Algieri holds his training camp.

“That was incredible, it meant a lot. He’s such a major figure in boxing, and to hear him call me “champ,” that was something for the ages,” he said. “He wished me luck.”

Oh yeah, the boxing stuff, there’s been a ton of that. Algieri reports his gameface is getting snarlier. A few sparring partners have been dismissed from camp, coach Tim Lane reports, and that comes from not being able to hang with the intensity of the sessions, both physical and mental. Zab Judah has been in to give work, 20-0 Jose Zepeda has as well, and all in all, the New Yorker says he’s feeling as strong and savage as ever before.

He got a nice break today (Thursday), when he went to LA for a Top Rank presser to tout the Nov. 22 PPV. Algieri got another thrill of a lifetime when Sylvester Stallone was trotted out. “He got a great pop, he spoke to the crowd,” the boxer said. Promoter Bob Arum introed Algieri as a “real life Rocky” and the fighter did note that the comparison is a tad bit strained, considering he’s never worked as a thumb-breaker loan collector or battered sides of beef in training. But, he said it was a thrill to interact with Stallone and hear the icon wish him well. Stallone, he said, told him he can envision the New Yorker pulling off his own version of the Rocky upset in Macau.

Hey, like the Longoria thing, I guess, it’s in God’s hands.

Follow Woods on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Woodsy1069

WATCH RELATED VIDEOS ON BOXINGCHANNEL.TV