PHILIPPINE junior lightweight champion Jimrex Jaca is now deep in training at the Oscar De La Hoya Gym in Los Angeles for his WBO Interim featherweight championship fight against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez at the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas, USA on Nov. 25.
Jaca arrived in the US last Friday and was taken directly to De La Hoya’s gym to start his workout in preparation for the dangerous Marquez.
Jaca’s departure, however, drew ire from his manager Rex “Wakee” Salud, who threatened to file a suit against the Sibulan, Negros Oriental boxer. Jaca left without the blessing of Salud, who had originally planned to pit his fighter in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales III fight on Nov. 19.
However, despite falling out with Salud, Jaca is getting royal treatment from Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) since his arrival in the US.
Royal treatment
Eric Gomez, vice president and international matchmaker of GBP, assured that Jaca is safe and sound and has started his training and was paired with good sparring partners in preparation for the biggest fight of his life.
Aside from this, Gomez said GBP has signed Jaca to a three-fight contract that would ensure the former OPBF super-bantamweight champion a lot of money.
For this fight against Marquez, Jaca will get $50,000 purse—-his biggest paycheck.
Jaca left the country last Nov. 2 together with his trainer Rober Bubuli Jr. and matchmaker Leonil Lazarito.
Their departure was kept secret until they were aboard the plane bound for the US.
Jaca was originally scheduled to fight Marquez last Oct. 21 (Oct. 22, RP time) but the bout was cancelled after the Filipino boxer failed to get a US visa on time.
According to his wife Len-Len, Jimrex left for Manila in a hurry last Thursday afternoon telling her that he would contact her three days after they landed in the US.
“I thought they would leave Thursday evening but Jimrex left in the afternoon. He only told me that he would contact me three days after they would arrive in the US. He said nothing about who and on what card he is fighting. All I know is that he will be fighting in the US, so I did not ask questions anymore,” said Len-Len.
Salud also planned to send Jaca to the US last Friday but it was already too late as he already learned that the boxer left for the US Thursday evening.
