Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao says he won?t underestimate Thailand?s ?Destroyer of Filipinos? Fahsang 3K Battery, his opponent in what is likely to be an International Boxing Federation eliminator in a fight card titled ?Yanig sa Taguig? at an open air arena in front of Home Depot at The Fort on Dec. 11.
Pacquiao said it was ?dangerous to take an opponent for granted because anything can happen in the ring.?
He said he won?t make the mistake of looking down on the Thai, who has beaten over 20 Filipino boxers and has lost only one of his last 35 fights.
When asked about his rematch with World Boxing Association/IBF champion Juan Manuel Marquez set for Feb. 26 and a possible showdown with super featherweight champion Erik Morales, provided he defeats Marco Antonio Barrera on Nov. 27, Pacquiao said he would like to ?concentrate first on the Fahsang fight before looking ahead.? This gives some idea of how important the Dec. 11 tune-up bout is, in terms of his future.
Both international promoter Murad Muhammad and Pacquiao?s business manager Rod Nazario have cautioned Pacquiao not to take the Thai fighter lightly.
Muhammad said Pacquiao ?has got to work hard. He has to be strong because this is a challenge.? The promoter stressed that Pacquiao must realize that he is ?a great champion, who was born to bring recognition to the Philippines and has got to show that in this part of the world, we can fight.?
Fahsang, who would have trained for over two months by the time the fight takes place, said he is ?in very good condition? and ready to pull off a big surprise, pointing out that he?s never been knocked out in his career while Pacquiao has been knocked out twice.
?When I knock him out it will be the third time,? said Fahsang, who is a stablemate of super flyweight Medgoen 3K Battery, who knocked out Pacquiao in three rounds to win the World Boxing Council flyweight title in 2000 in Bangkok.
Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga told Manila Standard that ?this is a great opportunity to boost Manny Pacquiao. It is also a big boost for Taguig and puts us on the map. This fight will be good for the economy and good for our country.?
