Pacquiao cousin makes heads turn

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines – Of the many young boxers here trying to follow  in Manny Pacquiao’s footsteps there’s one that towers over the rest.

Jonel Velasquez Dapidran, only 15 years old and standing 5-foot-8, reached the semis of the 2012 PLDT-ABAP Mindanao Boxing Championships the other day.

He defeated Argie Malabo of River Valley in Bukidnon via RSC and was to face Marvilo Aballe of Davao del Norte last night in the Youth boys’ lightweight division.

Dapidran is no ordinary boxer because he’s Pacquiao’s relative. His father, Alex, is the first cousin of Pacquiao’s mother, more popularly known as Mommy Dionisia.

One of Dapidran’s uncles, Francis Velasquez, is a former Philippine lightweight champion.  Boxing is in his blood, and in less than a year into the sport, he’s made some heads turn.

“He has the potential. He’s young but you can see the good boxing fundamentals in him,” said Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippine executive director Ed Picson.

Even the coaches of the national team – Pat Gaspi and Boy Velasco – can see the potential in Dapidran, regardless of how he fares in his remaining bouts in the grassroots event.

His coaches here in General Santos City – Bebe Tinagsa and Renato Moreno –  said Pacquiao has been told of his younger cousin, and has personally asked them to look after Dapidran.

“All we want for him is to get the exposure first. This is his first tournament. And what’s important is he has the guts like his cousin. Matapang. Ang tapang hindi mo kaya ituro,” said Tinagsa.

“Win or lose, we just want to give him the exposure,” he added.

“I want to be like my cousin Manny Pacquiao. But I’m not in a hurry. I want to win a few medals first in the amateurs before thinking of turning pro,” said Dapidran in Filipino.

Earning slots to today’s finals as of presstime were Reymark Ibones of General Santos B and Prince Mar Mesa of Panabo in the Junior boys’ pinweight  John Patrick Dinolan of Davao del Norte and Dannel Maamo of Maguindanao (Junior boys’ light-flyweight), John Paul Cristobal of Roxas City and Michael Bahena of Davao del Norte (Junior boys’ flyweight),  and Presco Carcosia Jr. of Misamis Oriental and Mark Austria of Davao del Norte (Junior boys’ light-bantamweight).

The Mindanao leg of this grassroots event ends today, and will resume with the Luzon leg sometime in January, leading to the national finals on February. The Visayas leg was held earlier this month.