LAS VEGAS - Manny Pacquiao often says he wants to leave a legacy in the sport of boxing, but one of his children becoming pro boxers isn't what he had in mind.
Pacquiao revealed he wasn't too happy about his eldest son Emmanuel Jr., better known as Jemuel, has designs on following his famous father into the ring.
"I feel sad. I don't want him to box but he really likes boxing. Almost every day all the time I can catch him in his room watching my fights. All my fights he downloaded it to his cellphone," said Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 knockouts) after Tuesday's grand arrival at the MGM Grand for his fight this weekend against Adrien Broner.
Among the fights Pacquiao has caught his son watching are the ones against Miguel Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya, Antonio Margarito, Ricky Hatton and Erik Morales. He said his son bought a mouthpiece and gloves when he arrived in the U.S. last month.
Pacquiao Jr. had been training for a while, working out at his father's gym in General Santos City and at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles with former champion Rodel Mayol.
"He has a very strong right hand and he has some of the same moves his dad has," said Mayol.
"It depends if he focuses on boxing," Mayol added when asked if Pacquiao Jr. has a future in the sport. "But I don't think so because he has everything in his life."
Before showing any inclination to box, Pacquiao Jr. had done a modeling campaign for a clothing brand alongside his younger brother Michael.
Pacquiao Sr., who himself plays basketball for four hours a day, had hoped that hoops would absorb any athletic interests he had harbored.
"I always discourage them from boxing. In my house they cannot see equipment of boxing or gloves," said Pacquiao.
Still, the fighting senator says his namesake isn't all that bad with his hands.
"He's strong, he has a strong straight," said Pacquiao.
Will his son's fight go through? "I don't know if his mom..." Pacquiao said before his laughter trailed off.
If Pacquiao Jr. pursued a career in boxing, he wouldn't be the first champion's son to do so.
Julio Cesar Chavez, Leon Spinks, Chris Eubank, Aaron Pryor, Hector Camacho, Joe Frazier, and Wilfredo Vazquez are just a few of the fighters whose sons later picked up the family business.