Pacquiao stops foe in 1st round!
By Dennis Principe
27.10 - DAVAO CITY, Philippines – As expected, IBF superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines registered another brutal knockout win in his latest title defense by finishing contender Faphrakorb Rakkiatgym of Thailand in less than a round last night at the Rizal Memorial Colleges Gym in this city.
The 23-year old Pacquiao (25-2-1, 26 KO's) , who hardly worked out a sweat, caught the taller Rakkiatgym (35-3, 22 KO's) with a crushing right hook with over a minte into the round that sent the Thai on his knees as well as the delirious crowd up on their feet.
Rakkiatgym, 27, was able to beat the count but Pacquiao, buoyed by the already-rapturous crowd, never wasted time letting loose his vicious combinations and uppercuts that sent the Thai fighter to the canvass two more times.
With less than a minute left in the round, Pacquiao floored for the fourth and final time the hapless Thai fighter by unleashing a whopping right cross smack on the challenger’s face.
Referee bruce McTavish immediately waved off the fight as Rakkiatgym lay motionless in front of his worried corner. The official time of the stoppage was 2:46 of the first round.
Rakkiatgym was carried out of the ring through a wheelchair and with oxygen to prevent any serious damage.
Both Pacquiao and Rakkiatgym made a one-of-a-kind ring entrance as they where surrounded by a Bagobo dance rite with the Filipino world champion wearing a Bagobo warrior attire.
With the win, Pacquiao is expected to set his sights on big-name opponents like Mexicans Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales in the featherweight division, possibly next year.
In other fights, Filipino Chris Saluday controlled former world champion Goyo Vargas of Mexico during the first three rounds but later faltered in the next two rounds, forcing his corner to and give-up in the fifth round.
Up-and-coming Danilo Lerio, a Sydney Olympian, won a 4-round decision win over compatriot Philip Parcon while undefeated local champion Jimrex Jaca decisioned Thai Wihock Jockeygym in eight rounds.
