By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Fahsang 3K Battery (Por Thawatchai) hailed as the "Destroyer of Filipinos" having over 20 Filipino victims in his record of 44-7-1 with 23 knockouts is being flown in from Thailand by international promoter Murad Muhammad for tomorrow's luncheon press conference to announce the fight details at Pier 1 at The Fort in Taguig.
Fahsang and his manager are scheduled to arrive aboard a PAL flight from Bangkok at 6:00 p.m. today.Not to be outdone Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao is also flying in from General Santos City today to make sure he won't be upstaged by the Thai in his own hometown.
Muhammad, in announcing that both fighters in the main event will be present at the press conference said "this is big and we want to do this for the Philippines." Murad, after a meeting with business manager Rod Nazario and the major supporters of the fight who will be introduced tomorrow, earlier paid a courtesy call on Games and Amusements Board chairman Eduardo Villanueva and Commissioner Emmanuel Palabrica to thank them for their support to the sport of boxing and to Pacquiao.
Villanueva told Murad and Nazario "we need this fight for the sake of our country in these hard times" while Palabrica said "this promises to be a good fight because Pacquiao wants to avenge the defeats suffered by his countrymen" and Fahsang 3K Battery should give Pacquiao a good fight. The bout is scheduled for twelve rounds and may eventually serve as an eliminator for the IBF featherweight title since Fahsang is ranked No. 4 by the world organization which gave Pacquiao his first big break against Lelohonolo Ledwaba whom he routed to win the IBF junior featherweight crown.
Murad said Pacquiao "should not underestimate Fahsang who is eager to fight and to win because that will give him a chance to earn millions. You should never believe that any fight is easy. Besides, Fahsang is a hungry fighter." The fact that he was ready to fly over for the press conference at such short notice tells you how eager he is. He wants to send a message to Pacquiao that he's ready to face him.
Pacquiao who has been training in his hometown in General Santos City is expected to remain in Manila to continue his training under American ace Freddie Roach who is scheduled to arrive two weeks before the fight to handle the final stages of his preparation.
Philippine super featherweight champion and Orient Pacific Boxing Federation No. 1 ranked Bobby Pacquiao, younger brother of Manny and Z "The Dream" Gorres who is also OPBF and RP No. 1 super flyweight will be featured in the main supporting bouts in the Pacquiao-Fahsang showdown.
