By Ronnie Nathanielsz
RP super featherweight champion and Orient Pacific Boxing Federation No. 1 contender Bobby Pacquiao, the younger brother of Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao, battles WBO International champion Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym in a title fight on February 18 in Pattaya, Thailand. Fahprakorb is the same boxer who suffered a first round knockout at the hands of then IBF super bantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao in Davao City in October 2002 in a mandatory title defense.
The clash with Fahprakorb will be a tough test for the young Pacquiao since the lanky Thai champion has improved a great deal since his KO loss to elder brother Manny when Fahprakorb was IBF No. 1 super bantamweight contender. Bobby Pacquiao who is coming off a unanimous eight round decision over Mexican journeyman Oscar Villa in his US debut, trained under Freddie Roach at his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles and appeared to benefit from that stint. He has since been training in his hometown of General Santos City under Nonoy Neri and is scheduled to arrive in Manila on Monday to continue his preparation for what could be a crucial fight in his career.
Pacquiao will be accompanied by business manager Rod Nazario and Team Pacquiao members Moy Lainez and Gerry Garcia when he leaves for Thailand on February 15. Fahprakorb won his last fight, overcoming a first round knockdown against southpaw Alvin Clerino who decked the WBO International champion with a big right and then hammered him across the ring but couldn’t finish him off. However, Fahprakorb fought back furiously and knocked out Clerino with a vicious left hook to the ribs. Fahprakorb improved his record to 46-3 with 29 KO’s while Clerino who is managed by Johnny Elorde dropped to 10-2 with 7 knockouts. The manager of Fahprakorb is Jimmy Chaitchotchuang who also manages Fahsan 3K Battery who lost by a fourth round KO to Manny Pacquiao in the spectacular “Yanig sa Taguig” fight card last December 11 a The Fort.
