World Boxing News can reveal that Manny Pacquiao Jr. is training to compete in the professional ranks in the future.
According to trainer Marvin Somodo, Manny Jr. will follow legendary father, Manny Pacquiao, by becoming a prizefighter. Junior is currently splitting his time between home and the Wild Card Gym under the guidance of Somodo and Freddie Roach.
Ex-boxer Roach famously coached Pacquiao Sr. to numerous world championships and a Hall of Fame career that may not be over yet. Despite being inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, with a ceremony due in the summer, Pacquiao still hopes to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight crown in July.
WBN understands that Manny Jr. could appear on the undercard if the fight goes ahead as planned.
Discussing Junior’s progress, Somodo spoke exclusively to World Boxing News.
“Manny Jr. is just training every day just like my other professional fighters,” Somodo explained to WBN. “We are hoping to get him a fight soon, but the main thing is improving him at the gym every day. Turning pro in the future is the plan for him, and once I see that he is ready. The plan is for him to become a professional boxer, but you never know.”
When asked how Junior was developing, Somodo replied, “He is doing really well. His work ethic is really good. You see him every day in the gym and never complain. We spar with world-class fighters, and he does well. His future depends on his performance when he turns pro. I believe he will do well, but only time will tell,” he concluded.
Pacquiao Jr. enjoyed mixed results in the amateurs and suffered four straight setbacks. However, his game may be better suited to the pros if he’s anything like his eight-weight world title-holding dad.
At 23, Pacquiao Jr. is running out of time and must make his move within the next six months. This decision will coincide perfectly with Pacquiao Sr.’s comeback and allow the pair to make history by fighting on the same bill over the summer in Las Vegas.
