FAHPROAKOB RAKKIATGYM VS VALDEMIR PEREIRA
FOR THE VACANT IBF FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE
JANUARY 20TH ON ESPN2
 
Murad Muhammad and M & M Sports with Promoter Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions, in association with Foxwoods Resort Casino, will present a world championship fight card on January 20, 2006 in the Fox Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino, located at 39 Norwich Westerly Road in Mashantucket, Connecticut. This Championship Bout and the Semi - Main will be featured on ESPN2’s “ Friday Night Fights” the first telecast of the 2006 season.
 
In the 12-round main event, the vacant International Boxing Federation featherweight world title will be at stake when the IBF  #3  ranked  Fahproakob Rakkiatgym, 50-3, with 33 knockouts, of Khonkaen, Thailand battles  4th  ranked Valdemir Pereira, 22-0, with 15 knockouts, of Sao Caetano Do Sul, Brazil, 
 
30 year-old Rakkiatgym a  left-handed 13-year professional veteran,  is making his U.S. debut. He has won 14 fights in a row, 10 by knockout, since his unsuccessful IBF jr. featherweight world title challenge in October, 2002, against defending champion Manny Pacquiao. Rakkiatgym’s current streak includes a knockout win against Manny’s younger brother, Bobby Pacquiao, in February, 2005.
 
Fahproakob signed with Muhammad because he thought the promoter could work wonders. Three days after signing with M & M Sports the Thai was given the opportunity at his first world title.
 
Murad Muhammad states that;
 
“It’s not that I’m a miracle worker it’s just that I’m at the right place at the right time. The reason I’m called a miracle worker is that I enjoy making fighters happy and fulfilling there dreams. How I was able to sign this kid and three days later get him a shot at the world title is because Marquez forfeited. His promoter didn‘t bid. The IBF gave them a second time to bid and no one bid either time.  That allowed the IBF to strip him of his belt. That put Fahproakob in the position to fight for a world title. This fight was scheduled to go to Brazil and off TV so M &M and  Banner got together and we are elated that ESPN choose to put us in primetime on January twentieth.” 
 
Pereira, now 31 years old, is ranked No. 4 by the IBF at featherweight. He is making his third appearance on ESPN2 - on January 28, 2005, he won a 12 round unanimous decision in an exciting fight against Whyber Garcia (15-2), and on August 13, 2004, he won a 10 round split decision in a hard-fought battle against Emmanuel Lucero (22-1-1).
 
Final press conference: Wednesday, January 18, at 1:00 P.M., in Han Garden at Foxwoods. (All times EST.)
Weigh-in: Thursday, January 19, at 5:00 P.M., in the Fox Theatre.
Doors open at 7:00 P.M., first fight at 8:00 P.M.
Ticket prices: $35, $60, $75.