Jimuel Pacquiao escapes with draw in pro debut
MANILA, Philippines — Emmanuel Pacquiao Jr., named after his legendary father, came up short in making an impression in his first fight as a pro.
Manny Pacquiao’s eldest son—more popularly known as Jimuel—was held to a draw by fellow pro debutant Brendan Lally in their four-round lightweight fight at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California on Sunday (Manila time).
One judge scored it 39-37 for Pacquiao Jr. while the other two both had it 38-38, leading to a majority draw.
The actual scorecards, however, were arguably hardly reflective of the fight, with the taller and more aggressive Lally appearing to have the upper hand.
The 5-foot-7 American from Chicago asserted his size over the 5-foot-6 Pacquiao Jr., who was often forced to the ropes especially in the last two rounds.
Pacquiao Jr. though also had his moments, landing some overhand rights and uppercuts to Lally’s head, to the delight of the crowd that included his parents Manny and Jinkee.
But Lally’s pressuring style spiked by straights to the head and hooks to the body often kept Pacquiao Jr. on the defensive, eliciting concerned looks from his parents.
Jimuel’s mother Jinkee was shown on the verge of tears shortly after the final bell sounded.
Still, Pacquiao Jr. salvaged some measure of pride when the scores were read, knowing he avoided a losing start in the pro ranks.
The 24-year-old fighter had at least 10 amateur fights under his belt by the time he turned pro. He and wife Carolina recently welcomed the birth of their daughter.
The Pacquiao Jr.-Lally bout was part of the Filipino icon’s first boxing card in the United States under his company Manny Pacquiao Promotions (MPP).
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