Katiandagho picked as Manny's sparring mate
FORMER WBC youth world super lightweight champion Sonny Katiandagho will be among the few boxers who will beef up Manny Pacquiao's upcoming title retention bid against undefeated Aussie fighter Jeff Horn.
Katiandgaho of the Highland Bocing Gym of La Trinidad, Benguet started to work with the former eight time world division champion May 20.
Manager Brico Santig told Sun*Star Baguio the sparring with Pacquiao will also serve as training for the lanky 24 - year old who is gearing up for his July bout for the WBC Asia lightweight crown.
“Magandang experience ito para kay Sonny and at the same time this will also help improve his confidence," said Santig.
Katiandagho, is coming off from a loss in April via a technical knockout against Darragh Foley in new Southwales, Australia for the WBA Oceania super lightweight title.
The loss however was only the second for the General Santos native boxer after winning nine straight fights that include five TKO's and winning the vacant WBC Youth World super lightweight title in 2014 against Allan Tañada via unanimous decision.
“Although wala pang possible opponent, pinaghahanda na natin si Sonny for a possible shot at the WBC Asia crown on July 9,” added Santig.
Aside from the youth world super lightweight strap, Katiandgaho also held the WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council welterweight title by knocking out Rafik Harutjunjan of Indonesia in May last year.
Pacquiao meanwhile is set to defend his WBO welterweight title against Horn on July 2 at Brisbane's 52,500-capacity Suncorp Stadium.
Promoters for Horn, a 29-year-old and the No. 2 contender, had been working on a possible deal to fight Pacquiao since January, and finally made the announcement on Sunday with state government officials in attendance.
Pacquiao and his camp had attempted to line up a higherpaying fight with Britain's Amir Khan in the Middle East which never happened, stalling the negotiations for several months.
The 38-year-old Pacquiao is an 11-time world champion over eight weight divisions and is now a senator in the Philippines with a record of 59-6-2 while Horn is 16-0-1.
The bout, being dubbed by organizers as "Australia's biggest-ever fight," is expected to be held at the open-air stadium around midday or early afternoon Sunday, July 2, coinciding with a prime-time television audience back in the United States on the Saturday night, July 1. Roderick Osis with a report from AP