Vegas beckons Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao is fighting in Las Vegas.

Junior, that is.

Emmanuel Pacquiao Jr., nicknamed Jimuel, is bringing his act to Sin City when he fights on 4 February at the Westgate Resort and Casino.

Based in Los Angeles since mid-2021, the young Pacquiao has been religiously training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood in pursuit of becoming a star like his legendary father.

He has fought a few times around southern California but this will be his debut in Las Vegas, the city that gave the now-retired Pacquiao fame and fortune after almost exclusively fighting there for two decades beginning in June 2001 until August 2021.

But Jimuel's much-awaited Vegas debut will be fought using amateur rules since the 21-year-old has yet to turn professional.

Staged by Never Quit Boxing Gym, Jimuel's bout has the blessings of USA Boxing, the sanctioning body in charge for boxing in the United States.

Helping out Jimuel in his training in America is Marvin Somodio, who serves as Freddie Roach's assistant at the Wild Card.

Meanwhile, Jerwin Ancajas' proposed comeback fight in Cavite next month will no longer push through after it was decided that it would be better if the ex-world champion sets up camp in the United States instead.

"I have the world title fight for him when the time is right," MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons said yesterday.

Ancajas reigned as International Boxing Federation super-flyweight king from September 2016 until February 20022 and made ten defenses of the 115-lb strap before losing it to Argentine Fernando Martinez.