LAS VEGAS – In the end, Jimuel Pacquiao decided to defer making his pro debut in what could have been a historic boxing fight card.
Heeding the advice of his trainer, the aspiring boxer agreed to reschedule his formal foray into professional boxing, and let his legendary father Manny Pacquiao fully focus on his bid to win another world title on Sunday (Manila time).
Filipino Marvin Somodio serves as trainer of the young Pacquiao, who was supposed to see action as part of a swing bout in the undercard of the Mario Barrios-Pacquiao World Boxing Council welterweight title match at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
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The fight was to serve as Jimuel’s pro debut.
But a talk with Somodio convinced Pacquiao’s son to delay his first professional fight.
“Nag-usap kami (Jimuel) at pinaliwanag ko naman sa kanya na history sana na magkasama silang mag-ama sa isang fight card,” said the Filipino training assistant of Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.
“Pero siyempre, hindi rin maaalis sa father niya na mahati yung focus niya sa laban niya kay Barrios and sa laban nung anak niya. And siyempre lumalaban s'ya for a world title kaya kailangan talaga total ang focus niya on the day of the fight.”
Without any second thoughts, the 24-year-old Pacquiao gave way to his father’s historic bid to win a world title at the age of 46.
“Sabi niya, 'Coach, sige, sa susunod na lang ako lalaban,” Somodio recalled Jimuel telling him.
But Somodio, who briefly fought as a pro, said the young Pacquiao, who holds a 6-4 record as an amateur, is a fast learner as he has no previous experience in boxing.
“Meron naman siyang skills, pero mahirap ikumpara kay (Sen) Manny, na alam naman natin nagsimula bata pa lang,” he said.
And the determination to follow in the footsteps of his iconic father is also there.
Somodio recalled one incident where Jimuel got battered in a sparring session at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.
“Nahirapan siya sa sparring nung araw na yun, sabi ko malamang hindi na bumalik yun sa gym,” he said. “Pero the following day, andun siya at nagte-training ulit.”
That convinced Somodio about Jimuel’s resolve to carve his own name in the world of prizefighting and not just being referred to as the son of the great Manny Pacquiao.
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