says no to Pacquiao-Rakkiatgym
By Paul Upham: The IBF has decided against installing Thailand’s Fahprakob Rakkiatgym as the mandatory challenger to IBF junior featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao (pictured) and has instead asked that the Thai participate in an eliminator against Jose Luis Valbuena.
“We have decided to drop Rakkiatgym down to No.4 for inactivity,” said Joe Dwyer, IBF championship committee chairman. 26 year-old Rakkiatgym, 36-2 (22), won on points over eight rounds on December 8 in the UK against Anthony Hanna 18-48-7 (5), but Dwyer insists that the level of competition was not sufficient.
“Did you see the record of the fellow he fought? I said to his promoter Rodney Berman that I don’t consider that world-class competition that he was fighting,” said Dwyer.
“Valbuena is going ahead of Rakkiatgym. Since his loss to Marco Antonio Barrera, which went the distance, Valbuena has beaten two ranked fighters, including Ernesto Grey for the IBF Latin American title.”
“I have ordered a box-off between Valbuena and Rakkiatgym. Rodney Berman was not too happy with that, but I really think that I am giving him the benefit of the doubt letting him get in a box-off. If he doesn’t choose to, he can step aside and drop down the ratings further. I have told them to start negotiations this week.”
Although Pacquiao, 33-2-1 (25), has a mandatory defence is due in March, he will be free for an optional defence of the title until a new No.1 mandatory contender is established. “I am not going to put Pacquiao into a mandatory date until I get a mandatory opponent,” explained Dwyer. “I understand that his fight with Oscar Larios is now off in March anyway because his eye has not healed.”
Rakkiatgym’s manager Jimmy Chaichotchuang told SecondsOut.com earlier this week that Pacquiao must face his man next in a mandatory defence.
“Pacquiao knows Thai boxing well and he knows how tough Rakkiatgym will be in the ring. We think they will try to delay the fight because Pacquiao doesn’t want to fight our man. Manny Pacquiao should not avoid or run away from Rakkiatgym. He is a worthy mandatory contender and has proved himself in the ring against many opponents,” he stated.
Paul Upham
Contributing Editor
“We have decided to drop Rakkiatgym down to No.4 for inactivity,” said Joe Dwyer, IBF championship committee chairman. 26 year-old Rakkiatgym, 36-2 (22), won on points over eight rounds on December 8 in the UK against Anthony Hanna 18-48-7 (5), but Dwyer insists that the level of competition was not sufficient.
“Did you see the record of the fellow he fought? I said to his promoter Rodney Berman that I don’t consider that world-class competition that he was fighting,” said Dwyer.
“Valbuena is going ahead of Rakkiatgym. Since his loss to Marco Antonio Barrera, which went the distance, Valbuena has beaten two ranked fighters, including Ernesto Grey for the IBF Latin American title.”
“I have ordered a box-off between Valbuena and Rakkiatgym. Rodney Berman was not too happy with that, but I really think that I am giving him the benefit of the doubt letting him get in a box-off. If he doesn’t choose to, he can step aside and drop down the ratings further. I have told them to start negotiations this week.”
Although Pacquiao, 33-2-1 (25), has a mandatory defence is due in March, he will be free for an optional defence of the title until a new No.1 mandatory contender is established. “I am not going to put Pacquiao into a mandatory date until I get a mandatory opponent,” explained Dwyer. “I understand that his fight with Oscar Larios is now off in March anyway because his eye has not healed.”
Rakkiatgym’s manager Jimmy Chaichotchuang told SecondsOut.com earlier this week that Pacquiao must face his man next in a mandatory defence.
“Pacquiao knows Thai boxing well and he knows how tough Rakkiatgym will be in the ring. We think they will try to delay the fight because Pacquiao doesn’t want to fight our man. Manny Pacquiao should not avoid or run away from Rakkiatgym. He is a worthy mandatory contender and has proved himself in the ring against many opponents,” he stated.
Paul Upham
Contributing Editor
SecondsOut Weekly Newsletter
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