Manny Pacquiao says son Jimuel can be a champion too after impressing in debut exhibition bout
- Filipino boxing icon’s 18-year-old son impresses in the ring after only a few weeks of training
- Emmanuel ‘Jimuel’ Pacquiao Jnr fights aggressively against school chum in Philippines gym
Manny Pacquiao’s eldest son seems to be following in the footsteps of his famous father after the teenager made his “debut” in a recent amateur exhibition bout.
Emmanuel “Jimuel” Pacquiao Jnr took up boxing earlier this year but he showed some of his dad’s legendary moves, knocking down school friend Lucas Carson in a two round bout in a gym in the Philippines last week.
Junior only began boxing soon before his father successfully defended his WBA welterweight world championship title against American Adrien Broner in Las Vegas last month and despite his limited experience, he had a small crowd roaring with delight after showing battling qualities and aggressiveness in the fight.
Pacquiao Jnr is 18 years old and is eldest of the boxing icon’s five children. The fighting Filipino senator told the South China Morning Post that young Emmanuel could become a champion one day – if he’s willing to work hard for it.
“I support Emmanuel Jnr in any and all of his endeavours. Boxing is a very tough sport, but I believe my son has what it takes to become a champion, if he puts his mind and heart into it,” Pacquiao told the Post.
A video of the fight was posted online and quickly drew comparisons between Pacquiao and his son, who showed pretty good form considering his lack of experience.
Carson was also impressed by Junior’s determination during the bout, saying he felt Pacquiao’s stinging punches. Both fighters wore headgear during the fight and came out swinging from the start.
“Emmanuel did really good,” Carlson said in an interview with the GMA Network, a major television and radio broadcaster in the Philippines. “I was definitely knocked so many times. It hurt a lot but I wanted to keep going and have a good match in the end.”
Pacquiao Jnr praised Carlson and admitted he “ran out of gas” towards the end of the bout. “He’s tough,” he said of Carlson.
Before the bout, Emmanuel talked to his father via FaceTime – a video-calling service – with the eight-division champion giving some pointers to his son. Pacquiao Snr watched the bout from his phone.
It was clear from the get-go that Emmanuel showed ability as he knocked down his opponent almost straight away with Carlson falling to his knees but quickly getting up after he was on the receiving end of some vicious left and right hooks from Emmanuel.
Bystanders who attended the impromptu exhibition cheered on, and probably could not help but see some similarities to his father’s aggressive style. Junior even hit his gloves the same way his father would before he launched an attack.
Pacquiao Jnr looks like a diamond in the rough who is just getting started – it will be interesting to see if he takes up the sport as a career, knowing that his dad would fully support him.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KOs) is eyeing a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jnr in May although negotiations have been stalled with the 41-year-old American superstar insisting he’s retired. Pacquiao lost their long-awaited fight in 2015 with Mayweather winning by unanimous decision in a bout that generated around US$400 million in gross revenue – the biggest in history.
Pacquiao might also fight Keith Thurman, who last month came out of a 22-month hiatus to retain his WBA world super welterweight belt against fellow American Josesito Lopez in Barclays Centre, Brooklyn.
And there are even rumours Pacquiao could get into the ring with MMA star Khabib Nurmagomedov at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow this summer and that an offer has been made.
