CARRYING the surname of his famous father is already one big challenge for Jimuel Pacquiao.
What more following in Manny Pacquiao’s footsteps in the same field where he’s considered one of the greatest.
The young Pacquiao is well aware all eyes are on him, as he makes his professional debut next week against Brendan Lally at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.
His new journey comes a week after he welcomed the birth of his firstborn with partner Carolina.
The bout at lightweight is set at four rounds.
“The pressure is definitely there. People like to compare because my dad was already a world champion by the time he was 20,” said Jimuel during the media workout held for his coming fight at the iconic Wild Card Gym, where his father’s legend grew.
‘Pacman’ won the first of his record eight division world titles by the time he was 19 after a stunning eighth round knockout of Chatchai Sasakul of Thailand to snatch the WBC flyweight crown.
By the time he was at about the same age as his son at 24 years old, he was already a two-time world champion who was on the verge of stardom following his 11th round TKO of fellow Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera.
His own Pacquiao
Jimuel knows there’s only one Manny Pacquiao and insists he is his own person.
“I try to tune it out,” he said. “I’m at my own pace.”
Although Filipino Marvin Somodio – a trusted assistant of legendary and longtime 'Pacman' trainer Freddie Roach – will be working his corner, his 46-year-old father is expected to be ringside watching him make his pro debut.
The elder Pacquiao, who arrived with wife Jinkee in the U.S. two weeks ago, even joined his son at training and gave him some pointers here and there.
“I learn from the best, my dad,” said Jimuel, who, of course, looks up to his father as his biggest influence in the sport of sweet science.
“My father is a very big influence on my training, especially on my footwork. He is always watching. I try to take some of his moves,” he admitted.
“Boxing is really tough and it takes a lot of discipline. You have to be consistent. Eat, sleep, train.”
Like Pacquiao, Lally, a 5-foot-7 native of Chicago, Illinois, is making his professional debut.
The Pacquiao-Lally bout is one of the featured fights in the card being promoted by MP Promotions.
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