News that Manny Pacquiao will not stop his son Jimuel from pursuing a ring career shows the boxing icon respects his son?s decision to pursue a dream in the ring.
The article titled ?Pacquiao okays son?s boxing dream? published in The Manila Times on March 2 quoted Manny as saying ?Kung gusto niya, pinayagan ko na siya. Gusto ko sa kanya makapagtapos ng pag-aaral at gusto ko siyang mag-law (If he likes, I already allowed him. I want him to finish his studies and graduate. I want him to take up law).?
The argument here is who are we to stop other people from pursuing their dreams, especially if their dreams are big? Although I would understand Manny?s concerns for his son pursuing a boxing career because the game is still about knocking each other?s brains out.
So now what?
While Jimuel may not have the same level of motivation as Manny in pursuing a boxing career because the father literally had to fight to escape poverty, there are still a lot of factors going for the son.
Since Manny has earned millions of dollars and is already in the boxing promotion business, he can easily choose the best trainers in the world to train Jimuel. That was a luxury Manny never had because he started boxing as a complete unknown and had to make do with trainers who did not have any name.
And having a father, sibling or relative has a lot of pluses for boxers starting their careers. Take the case of Mikey Garcia whose brother Robert played a big part in molding him into one of the top and most feared boxers today. And Mikey did not fight to escape poverty like Manny ? he simply wanted to become one of the game?s top dogs.
Robert was the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world junior lightweight (130 pounds) title in 1998-1999.
Mikey faces Errol Spence Jr. this weekend for the IBF welterweight (147 pounds) title. Mikey is still undefeated at 39-0 with 30 knockout.
Then there?s Floyd Mayweather Jr. whose father and uncle Roger trained him to become one of the top boxers in his era alongside Pacquiao, among others. While the elder Floyd was not always his son?s top trainer, the father also had a lot of say in the management and promotion of Floyd Jr.?s great career.
But I have to warn those expecting too much from Jimuel if he really takes up boxing ? don?t expect much from him like his father winning world titles in eight divisions. And Jimuel can aim to become the first Filipino to win a boxing gold in the Olympics ? besides, Jimuel can pursue a non-pro career first because he is not mired in poverty, which forces boxers to immediately pursue professional career.
And once in the pro ranks, it makes no sense to expect Jimuel to win world titles in eight divisions like his father.
So when will we seen Jimuel?s first fight in the amateur or pro ranks? Or will his parents be able to change his mind in pursuing a boxing career?
Anyway, if an individual persists on pursuing a big dream, who are we to stop him? Or steal his dream.
