The eldest son of eight-times division world champion Manny Pacquiao has joined his famous father in training as the Philippines icon?s showdown with unbeaten American Keith Thurman draws nearer. With less than 11 days to go before Pacquiao puts his reputation on the line as he fights for 30-year-old Thurman?s WBA ?super? welterweight belt, the 40-year-old fighting senator got a little help in his training and it came in the form of his 18-year-old teenager son, who is aspiring to carry on the Filipino great?s legacy in the ring.
Last week, Pacquiao?s family joined the Philippines icon in Los Angeles, where his training camp is based. Pacquiao (61-7-2, 39 KOs) and his entourage then travel to Las Vegas to face Thurman (29-0-0, 22 KOs) in the boxing great?s third world title fight inside 12 months on July 20.
Jimuel wasted no time joining his father in his daily grind in Los Angeles, but it is the first time he has joined him in the ring. It was a rare moment where father and son shadow boxed together at Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, while the elder Pacquiao gave his son tips on how to bob and weave and other pointers that could come to use if the aspiring boxer decides to turn professional.
In one of Pacquiao?s training sessions, Jimuel hit the mitts with veteran coach Marvin Somodio as head trainers ?Buboy? Fernandez and Freddie Roach watched, according to ABS-CBN, who reported on the precious scenes between father and son. In one video, Pacquiao can be seen looking intently as his son works out on the mitts.
?Humble outside of the ring. But inside the ring he looks like a lion watching his cub. Haha, that?s how I saw him in this video. He?s a king in boxing,? commented juniortorres720 on Instagram. Jimuel has so far won all three of his amateur fights and told villainfy media that he was serious about turning pro. The high school graduate thinks his father will come up trumps against Thurman.
?Thurman is tough and he?s strong and it will probably go to a decision but he [Pacquiao] definitely has it. By the way things are looking now, he can get a knockout but Thurman is also tough and I think it will go the distance,? said Jimuel, who jogs with his father. ?I was just pushing myself towards the end [training in the hills of Los Angeles]. It was hard. My dad said ?always focus on stamina and that is a good base??
Asked how serious he was about becoming a full-time boxer, Jimuel said: ?Probably if I have a chance to represent the Philippines in all those amateur tournaments, that would be good. He [Pacquiao] said he can?t watch my matches [bouts] because he gets nervous, too. But he?s very supportive and he gives me advice et al.? Pacquiao has attracted hundreds of fans on an almost daily basis during his road work in Los Angeles and ?Pacman? has been keeping everybody happy by entertaining them with his rugged workouts while signing autographs and taking photos with them. Pacquiao has been installed as the 1.8 favourite for the fight after coming in as a 2.1 underdog only a few weeks ago.
