Reigning Philippine junior lightweight king Bobby Pacquiao won’t have his more illustrious brother by his side, but has vowed to bring back the crown when he faces IBF Pan Pacific featherweight champ Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym today at the Pattaya Port, located south of the resort paradise of Pattaya, some two hours off Bangkok, Thailand.
The 12-round battle is set to kick off at 3:30 PM (4:30 RP time) today, said promoter Jimmy Chaichotchuang in an interview with this writer.
Pacquiao, accompanied by a lean retinue including his handlers Rod Nazario, Moy Lainez, Lito Mondejar, trainer Nonoy Neri, television man Gerry Garcia and matchmaker Aljoe Jaro, is expected to go all-out against the same man who in 2002 was blown out in just a single round by his older brother and Ring Magazine featherweight king Manny Pacquiao in Davao City. Since that loss, Rakkiatgym has been on a long, 11-bout winning streak.
Long-time Cebu resident and boxing promoter Perry McNeely of JMP Boxing Club, who is now based in Thailand, has also indicated he will be at ringside to cheer for the Filipino champ.
To prepare for today’s showdown, Pacquiao had sparred against recent Rakkiatgym foe Alvin Cleri?o, as well as former rival Renato Inal and OPBF lightweight champ Dennis Laurente at the Elorde Gym in Sucat, Para?aque.
“Bobby has prepared long and hard for this fight. Everything he has done in training we will try to apply today. We are not worried of the scorecards, because Bobby is punching harder than ever before,” said Neri, Pacquiao’s trainer, in an earlier interview before departing for Bangkok on a PAL flight.
Reportedly, promoter Murad Muhammad is planning to line up marquee opportunities for the younger Pacquiao should he successfully snatch the crown off Rakkiatgym’s head today. Muhammad was responsible for Pacquiao’s US debut last year, where the Filipino fighter scored a one-sided decision victory over journeyman Oscar Villa in California.
