Imagine watching your child step into the ring for the first time, knowing the risks, the pain, and the pressure. That’s exactly what boxing legend Manny Pacquiao experienced as his son, Jimuel, made his professional debut—and it wasn’t pretty. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite a shocking outcome, Pacquiao has laid down a non-negotiable condition before his son steps back into the ring. Will Jimuel agree? Let’s dive in.
On a tense Saturday night, 24-year-old Jimuel Pacquiao, known to many as Manny Pacquiao Jr., faced off against Brendan Lally, an English teacher and former collegiate boxing champion from the University of Illinois. With a modest 6-4 amateur record, Jimuel entered the four-round lightweight bout as a relative newcomer. Lally, also making his debut, seemed poised for an upset victory after 12 minutes of intense action. However, the fight ended in a majority draw—one judge scored it 39-37 for Jimuel, while the other two saw it as a 38-38 tie. And this is the part most people miss: Pacquiao Sr. wasn’t just nervous; he was visibly shaken by the experience.
Backstage in California, the former eight-weight world champion spoke candidly with reporters. While proud of his son’s performance, Pacquiao made it clear: if Jimuel wants to fight again, his father will take a much more hands-on role in his training. “It’s the plan,” Pacquiao stated firmly when asked about his son’s future in boxing. “But I need to supervise his training. I don’t want what happened in that ring to happen again. He needs to sharpen his instincts and focus more on his opponent.”
This raises a thought-provoking question: Is Pacquiao’s condition a protective father’s instinct or a boxing legend’s attempt to mold his son into a champion? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao Sr. isn’t done making waves in the boxing world. At 46, he’s chasing history, aiming to become the oldest welterweight titleholder ever. He came close in July against Mario Barrios, but their fight ended in a controversial majority draw, leaving Pacquiao empty-handed. If a 147lb title shot doesn’t materialize, there’s talk of a rematch with none other than Floyd Mayweather. But here’s the kicker: as we approach 2026, those talks are still up in the air. Will Pacquiao get his shot at history, or will we see another iconic rematch? Only time will tell.
What’s your take? Do you think Jimuel should agree to his father’s condition? And who would you bet on in a Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch? Share your thoughts below—we’re all ears!
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