“I’m so proud of you!”
Ito ang reaksyon ni presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao sa unang tagumpay ng kanyang anak na si Jimuel Pacquiao sa U.S. amateur junior welterweight fight nito.
Naganap ang laban ni Jimuel kay Andres Rosales sa House of Boxing Gym sa San Diego, California, nitong Sabado, March 12 (Linggo, March 13, sa Pilipinas).
Hindi personal na nasaksihan ni Manny ang laban ni Jimuel dahil abala siya sa pangangampanya, pero updated ang Pambansang Kamao sa mga kaganapan sa laban ng panganay na anak nila ni Jinkee.
Ang sports writer na si Ryan Songalia ng The Ring, ang website na itinuturing na Bible of Boxing, ang nagbigay ng mga detalye tungkol sa boxing match na napanalunan ni Jimuel.
Bahagi ng kanyang report: “Emmanuel Pacquiao Jr. moved his amateur record to 1-0 on Saturday with a decision win over Andres Rosales at the House of Boxing gym in San Diego, Calif.
“The bout was his first sanctioned amateur bout; Pacquiao Jr. had previously competed in unsanctioned bouts in Manila.
“Pacquiao, 21, of General Santos City, Philippines used a stiff jab and a sneaky overhand right to consistently beat his opponent to the punch in front of a packed crowd.
“There were no knockdowns or scores read, only the announcement that Pacquiao in the red corner had emerged victorious.
“Marvin Somodio, who has been an assistant to Pacquiao Jr.’s eight division champion father for a decade, liked what he saw from the young man known as 'Jimuel.'
“'This is only his first amateur fight but he showed me that he has heart. He’ll get better and stronger,'” said Somodio of Pacquiao Jr.”
Mananatili si Jimuel sa Los Angeles, California para ipagpatuloy ang kanyang boxing training sa Wild Card Boxing Club.
Ang Wild Card gym ang pinagsanayan ni Manny bilang boksingero noong nag-uumpisa pa lamang ang boxing career nito hanggang kilalanin siya bilang isa sa mga pinakamahusay sa boxing sa buong mundo.