What’s better than having a person ringside to witness every single one of your punches? It’s the rarest gift, and luckily, the eight-division champ, Manny Pacquiao can brag of having that. As his close friend, trainer, and greatest ally, Restituto Buboy Fernandez is someone who accompanied him not just through all 407 rounds that the Filipino has spent inside the ring, but also when nobody knew or cared about the Hall of Famer’s existence. Growing up together in impoverished portions of Gen-San in the Philippines, Buboy later stood through all of the 62-8 boxer’s wins and losses.

Now he trains the 46-year-old for his comeback fight against WBC welterweight champion, Mario Barrios, set to happen on July 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. But, Pac-Man wouldn’t be the only one from his family to fight that night. On May 18, announcing his son, Emmanuel Pacquiao‘s professional debut on the undercard, the southpaw confirmed that he won’t be the only Pacquiao on the card. Though Jimuel, as they call the 24-year-old, lost 4/10 of his fights as an amateur boxer, who better than his father’s trainer can give fans an honest insight into the young fighter’s capabilities?

Recently, a reporter from ES News got the chance to catch up with former pro boxer and Ryan Garcia’s strength and conditioning coach, Justin Fortune, as well as Pacquiao’s trainer Buboy Fernandez. Nearly six minutes into the conversation, he asked if Buboy had done mitts with Manny, referring to the padded gloves that a partner or training coach holds for the boxers to practice their punches. To that, Fernandez recalled, “Maybe.” 

Continuing immediately, the trainer mentioned holding the pads for Pacquiao Jr. instead. “But I do it yesterday to his son,” commented Buboy. Curious just like the previous generation of fans, who used to watch Manny Pacquiao fight, the reporter asked how hard Jimuel hits. Realistically, Fernandez replied, “He’s a young boy and he’s starting. But, he get the power.”  And it’s true. Even though Sr. is seen teaching and training with his son often, it’s right for the boxer who is still in his 20s to be learning.

Noting Jr.’s presence in amateur boxing, the reporter commented how he’d seen Emmanuel Pacquiao knock people out with headgear and big gloves. But, Buboy fell into talking with Fortune, so he didn’t quite get hold of responding to that. The talks about Pacquio’s son remain a less-touched area that fans want to know more about. As for Pacquiao, how are the chances looking for his return to boxing after a four-year hiatus?

Manny Pacquiao’s return sparks debate: Still a warrior or time to rest?

When Pacquiao announced his retirement from the sport in September of 2021, most thought that that was it. That the champion was leaving the ring after a good 26 years of putting his gloves on and throwing fights that made purists practically study his moves. But who knew that he would be returning, just one last time? He wants to end his legacy with a WBC belt just the way he had started it—by winning his first title at flyweight with the sanctioning body in 1998.

Most boxing insiders, including Eddie Hearn and Teddy Atlas, have questioned the legend’s return. Nobody would want a boxer like Barrios, who is still in his prime and hungry, to take away from Pacquiao’s long-built legacy. Fans are equally concerned about his speed and stamina at an age nearing his 50s. Even Amir Khan, who sparred with the 29-2 boxer, called it a risky matchup. Moreover, ESPN analyst Tim Bradley, who has fought Pacquiao three times, thinks that Barrios could finish him. Meanwhile, some fans and insiders still think that Pacquiao has got the fire and precision just like before.

For now, it is only for the ring to decide which champion wins. What are your thoughts? Is returning at an out-of-prime age a bad decision from Pacquiao? Or is his skill and physique just as fresh and hasn’t really gone rusty? Well, let’s leave it to fight night, shall we?