Outside Source
According to a press release provided on Thursday, Manny Pacquiao Promotions (MP Promotions), launched by the all-time boxing great, will be bringing his league to the U.S. starting in November. The debut stateside event, which will be co-promoted along with World Boxing Champions Promotions as well as Ringside Ticket Inc., will take place on Nov. 29 at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. Of note, Manny Pacquiao Jr. will be making his first foray into professional boxing that night.
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MP Promotions was formed in 2006, created in the Philippines to help grow and inspire younger boxers in the Southeast Asian nation. It put on its first show that year when Pacquiao took on Oscar Larios in the Philippines, with “Pac-Man” defending his WBC International super featherweight strap. Numerous champions and elite up-and-comers belong to the MP Promotions stable, including current beltholders Pedro Taduran and Melvin Jerusalem.
Headlining the show will be a WBO featherweight championship eliminator match when Lorenzo Parra (23-1-1, 17 KOs) battles Elijah Pearce (21-2, 17 KOs). Parra is coming off a draw for the WBC Continental Americas featherweight belt, where he and Omar Cande Trinidad threw down for 10 even rounds. That follows a match with Javon Woodard Jr., where the two had their eight-round affair scored a draw, and the Parra prevailed in the overtime round. Meanwhile, Pierce has won 12 straight matches, recording nine knockouts along the way.
A Family Affair
“Jimuel” Pacquiao Jr. competed 10 times as an amateur, winning six since his first appearance in March 2022. While he won his first five, a losing stretch of four straight turned put him on a bit of a downturn. The 24-year-old came back to compete in April, where he took a decision over Patrick Reyes which snapped the skid and prompted him to take the steps to go pro.
Pacquiao Jr.’s father is elated to bring the promotion to the U.S., and he provided a statement about his plan for the future.
“It is an honor to bring Manny Pacquiao Promotions to the U.S.,” he wrote. “November 29 marks a pivotal new beginning. Some of my greatest memories took place in U.S. rings, and I’m proud to now create opportunities for the next generation of champions. With talent-rich events like this one, we will spotlight rising contenders and provide a platform for fighters to perform on a global stage.”
His appearance against Larios 19 years ago is not Pacquiao’s only walk to the ring under the MP Promotions banner. He also faced Lucas Matthysse in a co-promoted show called “Fight of Champions” in 2018, and he knocked “La Maquina” out in the seventh stanza in what was his first knockout since putting Miguel Cotta away in the 12th round in 2009. In his last time out, “Pac-Man,” age 46, fought to a majority draw with Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight throne.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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