Thai confident but Manny sure to shine

DAVAO CITY — International Boxing Federation (IBF) superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao has Thai challenger Fahprakob Rakkiat-Gym all figured out. But how he intends to deal with the taller and rangier invader will only be known when they finally slug it out in a scheduled 12-round title bout at the 5,000-seat Rizal Memorial Colleges gym here tonight.

Pacquiao declined to predict if the fight will end early or not in yesterday’s press conference at the Marco Polo Hotel. Fahprakob said the bout will definitely not go the distance and vowed to dethrone the Filipino in his third title defense.

Speaking through an interpreter, Fahprakob–who hasn’t lost in his last 32 fights dating back to 1993–said he’s not afraid of Pacquiao. "I’m confident I will win," he added. "I won’t predict which round it will end but I will beat Pacquiao. I will not run. I came to win, not to lose."

Pacquiao shrugged off Fahprakob’s forecast. He was clearly unimpressed by the Thai’s posturing and said he won’t let his countrymen down in his first home defense since wresting the IBF crown from Lehlo Ledwaba in Las Vegas last year. Pacquiao was tight-lipped on how he’ll get the job done. "Manood na lang kayo," he told his legion of fans.

Pacquiao tipped the scales at 122 pounds, the superbantamweight limit, and Fahprakob, 121, in yesterday’s 10 a.m. weigh-in supervised by visiting IBF official and ratings committee chief Daryl Peoples.

North Cotabato Gov. Manny Piñol and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte combined efforts to organize the P16 million, 70-round show that will be beamed to over 15 million households around the world, including 6.5 million in the US reached by KICU Channel 26 San Francisco, ABS-CBN’s Filipino Channel, and networks in five major cities with a sizable Filipino community.

"We are promoting Mindanao through Davao City," said Piñol. "We want to show to the world that Davao City is the golden doorway to Mindanao. We hope this event will open the eyes of foreign tourists and investors to the opportunities in the South. We are also bringing together all our Filipino brothers–Muslims and Christians alike–to enjoy a major sports event despite differences in beliefs and ideology."

The price range for tickets is from P50 to P50,000 although there are only 100 seats in the top category. The National Broadcasting Network (NBN) will air the title fight and selected preliminary bouts via satellite tonight.

In the main aperitif, former World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight titlist Gregorio (Goyo) Vargas takes on local boy Chris Saluday in a scheduled 10-round bout.

Peoples said the uniform championship rules approved by the Association of Boxing Commissions will apply in the IBF title match. In a briefing, he pointed out that there will be no standing eight-count, no three knockdown rule, and no fighter may be saved by the bell in any round. Additionally, Peoples noted that the fight will be declared a technical draw if either fighter is unable to continue because of an accidental foul, such as a headbutt, within four rounds.

New Zealand referee Bruce McTavish, who worked a 1996 fight where Fahprakob halted Barry Sewell of Australia to retain the World Boxing Federation (WBF) bantamweight diadem in Thailand, will be the third man in the ring.

The judges are Filipino Narciso Martinez, 63, Thai Samphan Saengakart, 45, and American Shafeeq Rashada, 60.

Martinez is scoring his first world title fight. He said he’s not excited because he’s used to the drama of big-time bouts with over 20 Philippine championship fights under his belt.

Samphan has been a ring judge for 10 years and is a veteran of at least 20 IBF Pan Pacific and Intercontinental title bouts. Like Martinez, he is working his first world championship match.

Rashada grew up with Pacquiao’s US agent Murad Muhammad and boxing official Larry Hazzard. He said he’s known as the "pride of Edison" because of his reputation for fairness as a boxing judge in more than 10 years. Rashada singled out his assignment in the George Foreman-Lou Savarese world heavyweight title fight a few years ago as the most memorable in his career.

Pacquiao’s US trainer Freddie Roach couldn’t fly in because he is receiving a Hall of Fame award in Los Angeles this weekend and working Johnny Tapia’s corner against Marco Antonio Barrera on Nov. 2. Roach sent his older brother Dominic, nicknamed Pepper, instead.

Pepper, a former pro who quit the ring in 1983 after being sentenced to five years in prison for wire fraud, helps out his brother in training fighters at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

"From when I first saw Manny a year ago, there’s a big difference in how he is today," said Roach, 44. "He hits harder. He’s smarter. He’s got better handspeed and footspeed. His defense is tighter. I haven’t worked with a guy who’s more talented and I’ve worked with guys like former world champion James Toney and Justin Juuko."

Roach said from watching Fahprakob on tape, he anticipates a war tonight. "The Thai’s slick, very crafty," he continued. "Not much head movement. He fights straight up, doesn’t move around much. Manny’s got to stay close and fight him inside because he’ll be right there for him. I predict Manny will shine against Fahprakob."

Pacquiao’s Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez said Fahprakob, a southpaw, doesn’t stand a chance. Fernandez observed that the Thai is slow to recoil after throwing a right jab and leaves himself open for a counter left hook or cross. Fahprakob also has a tendency to lower his right hand and fights flat-footed, moving his upper body and head to avoid getting hit.

Fahprakob, 27, held the WBF bantamweight title for three years and gave it up in 1997 after seven defenses to campaign in the superbantamweight division. His record is 37-2, with 23 knockouts.

Pacquiao, 22, has compiled a 34-2-1 mark, with 25 knockouts, since turning pro in 1995. One of his losses was dealt by Medgeon 3-K Battery, a Thai like Fahprakob, in 1999. He is undefeated in his last nine outings.

Vargas, who turns 32 tomorrow, said he hopes a win over Saluday will lead to a crack at the WBC superfeatherweight crown held by Thai Sirimongkol Singmanassak. His record is 41-7-1, with 29 stoppages, compared to Saluday’s 12-5.

In the undercard, Philippine superbantamweight titleholder Jimrex Jaca meets Vihok Jockey-Gym of Thailand in an eight-rounder and Sydney Olympian Danilo Lerio battles Philip Parcon in a four-rounder. In all, there are 11 fights in the bill.