BRENDAN Lally knows he’s up against all odds in his pro debut fight on Sunday (Manila time) when he faces the son of a boxing legend in a four-round lightweight bout.
But he’s not budging a bit and is confident enough to say he’s taking the challenge of trying to beat Emmanuel “Jimwell” Pacquiao Jr. – the eldest son of the great Manny Pacquiao who’s also making his professional debut at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California.
“I’m here to shock the world,” said the 24-year-old Lally from Chicago during the presser for MP Promotions’ first promotional undertaking in the US.
“It’s the perfect opportunity to do the coolest thing on the coolest day you can. I think any fighter would have taken the chance, and that’s what I’m here to do. I’m taking my shot.”
Jimuel Pacquiao knows the pressure of fighting under the shadow of his legendary father, the only fighter to win eight world division titles.
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But he stressed he’s looking to carve out his own boxing destiny, ready to make a name all to himself.
“I trust my team, they said I’m ready, so we’re doing this,” said the younger Pacquiao, who became a father for the first time last week when his wife gave birth to a lovely daughter.
“I worked with a lot of pros in the gym. The Wild Card is full of really good fighters so I’m more than ready.”
Other than the Pacquiao brand name, everything appeared equal between the two fighters.
Both came at 134lbs during the official weigh-in.
The 46-year-old Pacquiao, who’s on a comeback trail, attended the weigh-in along with his wife Jinkee.
PHOTO: Viva Promotions
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Pacquiao has 10 amateur fights across his name (6-4) before deciding to turn pro, while Lally, an English teacher and former collegiate boxing champion at the University of Illinois, has a 5-4 record.
“I hardly know the guy (Jimuel). Of course, you see the highlights, but nobody knows anybody until you get into the ring with them,” said the American. “I expect to try to prove himself and I expect an amazing fight.”
The Pacquiao-Lally match serves as undercard to the main bout pitting Elijah Pierce against Lorenzo Parra in a 12-round WBO featherweight title eliminator.
Parra sports a 23-1-1 record with 17 KOs, while Pierce is 21-2 and also with 17 KOs.
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