Fil-Am dreams to be like Manny

MANILA, Philippines — There’s a 17-year-old, 5-10 left-handed Fil-Am featherweight who is unbeaten in three pro fights, has sparred with the likes of Shawn Porter, Ryan Garcia and Shakur Stevenson and dreams of being the next Manny Pacquiao. He’s Demler (Little DJ) Zamora III, the oldest of four sons of Filipino father Demler, Jr. and African-American mother Tyesha.

When Little DJ was seven, he enrolled at Floyd Mayweather’s summer camp in Las Vegas. Mayweather was in the ring as Little DJ went on a dazzling, non-stop punching spree with Money’s uncle Roger holding the pads. “This is the future,” gushed Mayweather. “He’s Filipino and black. I call him a Blackipino.” For two years, Little DJ learned the ropes from Roger then his father took him to train in another facility where there were more boys his age. At 11, he began competing as an amateur and winning major tournaments. Now, Zamora works out at the Pound4Pound gym. Because Nevada won’t license prizefighters who are less than 17, Little DJ fought thrice in Mexico to start his pro career at 16, compiling a 3-0 record with two first-round KOs and a shutout decision.

Little DJ’s father was born in Subic to Filipino parents Demler, Sr., a US Navyman from Bataan and Virginia Guiang of Olongapo. The family later settled in San Diego then Las Vegas where the Zamoras own an optical shop True Eye Care. “I did martial arts, I know boxing,” said Demler, Jr. who played baseball at Cal State San Bernardino and turned down an offer by the Los Angeles Dodgers to play as a trainee in Mexico. “I’ve always been a boxing fan growing up, watching the greats like Tyson and Leonard. When Little DJ was at Floyd’s camp, I learned a lot just by watching Roger. I train Little DJ full-time. Someday, after this pandemic, I’d like to bring Little DJ to the Philippines for a fight. He’d put on a show. People tell me he fights like Errol Spence or Terence Crawford. He’s developing fast, sparring with high-level fighters. He can disguise and set up punches, use distance, he talks to guys like Garcia and picks up pointers. In three or four years, Little DJ will be a world champion.”

Little DJ, a high school senior, said he’ll forego college to focus on boxing but when the fighting is over, he plans to go back to earn a degree. “The greatest fighter ever is Pacquiao,” he said. “I’ve been to some of his weigh-ins but I’ve never watched him fight live. Once, when he was training for (Adrien) Broner, I went to UNLV and saw him work out. I’ve never met him but when I do, I’ll ask for advice on what I should do to be like him. Right now, I’m 5-10 and I’ll probably grow another inch of two. Height’s an advantage in my division. I see myself moving up to 147 or even 154. My style is like Spence, a boxer-puncher, we’re the same height with the same reach. I consider myself heavy-handed.”

Little DJ said fighting with pride is a trait that’s very Filipino. “We Filipinos carry ourselves well,” he said. “I’m proud to be Filipino and of course, I eat rice every day and I love chicken adobo.” A fighter whom he hopes to eventually face is WBO featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete who has stopped Filipino challengers Mig Elorde and Jeo Santisima. “I think I have the tools to beat Navarrete,” he said. “With my speed and power, I can take him.”