Pacquiao decks Thai in 1st round

MANILA, 1 November International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight titlist Manny Pacquiao floored Thai mandatory challenger Fabbrakob Rakkiatgym four times in the first round and retained his crown in just 160 seconds into their scheduled 12-round title fight at the Rizal Memorial College gym in Davao.

Referee Bruce McTavish of New Zealand halted the bout at the 2:46 mark after the Thai kissed the canvas for the fourth time, a victim of a non-stop blitz mounted by the Filipino champ before a packed crowd of nearly 3,000. A mean right cross by Pacquiao that caught Rakkiatgym while he was backing up to avoid a left started the end for the Thai fighter, who first hit the deck halfway through the round. Although he managed to beat the count, it was clear his eyes were glassy and his legs wobbled.

Sensing blood, Pacquiao, 23, went for the kill, throwing a variety of punches to the head and body of the dazed challenger who tried to cover up, in vain.

The Filipino champ landed more or less 20 punches in that barrage, his last, a right, felling the Thai for the fourth and last time. Even before the Thai, 27, hit the deck, McTavis stopped the fight.

Reyes settles for runner-up

finish in Masters

Efren Bata Reyes bowed to German Ralf Souquet, 9-4, in the finals of the 2002 World Pool Masters at the Woughton Center in Milton Keynes, England.

The Filipino ace settled for the second prize of $7,000 (364,000 pesos) while Souquet, who took a record fourth masters crown, pocketed $15,000 (780,000 pesos).

Against Souquet, Reyes was never in his element. Though he took the first rack, Reyes started missing his pot shots, allowing the German to surge ahead at 4-1. Reyes took the next rack when Souquet missed a Masse shot, but the Filipino scratched and Souquet proceeded to clinch the match.

Reyes downed Nick Van Den Berg of Holland in the quarterfinals and Fabio Petroni of Italy in the semifinals.

See the article here:
Pacquiao decks Thai in 1st round