MANY great athletes usually produce children that become great athletes as well.
Muhammad Ali, boxing’s GOAT (Greatest Of All Time), had sired a girl who went on to become a multiple world boxing champion.
Her name is Laila Amaria Ali, whose mother was Veronica Porche.
Laila made Ali proud by accomplishing an unbeaten record of 24 wins, 21 by knockout.
As good looking as Muhammad, Laila had held world crowns in super middleweight and light heavyweight divisions from 1999 to 2007 in alphabet organizations World Boxing Council, Women’s International Boxing Association, International Women’s Boxing Federation and International Boxing Association.
Ali fought in the first ‘Thrilla in Manila’ on October 1, 1975, defeating Joe Frazier by a 14th-round technical knockout when Frazier failed to answer the bell signaling the start of the 14th round.
Both Ali and Frazier had passed on, but not after producing the most brutal heavyweight bout in history, earning for the fight the distinction as the ‘Fight of the Century.’ Ali described it best by saying, ‘This fight was next to death.’
It was the fight’s grotesque brutality that helped trigger the call to reduce boxing matches from 15 rounds to 12 rounds.
Closer to home, the late Caloy Loyzaga, dubbed Asia’s best basketball player ever, had two sons inheriting his prowess: Chito and Ernesto (Ruso).
Even Robert Jaworski himself, the country’s most popular cager, produced Dudut, who would team up with his father and become the first father-and-son tandem in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Most recently-on October 29 to be exact-Manny Pacquiao’s son from another woman suddenly appeared to wow boxing fans at the ‘Thrilla in Manila 2’ at the Araneta Coliseum, the venue of the original ‘Thrilla in Manila.’
Pacquiao’s son, Emmanuel Joseph ‘Eman’ Bacosa Pacquiao, 21, easily disposed of Nico Salado in six rounds of a lightweight duel, winning by unanimous decision on scores of 58-55 from two judges and a 60-53 nod from the third judge.
Eman, born January 2, 2004, has a built-in height advantage as his 5’10’ frame is tall by lightweight standards (his father is 5’5′), not to mention the younger Pacquiao has a 74-inch reach. It shows in his 7-0-1, win-loss-draw record, with four knockouts.
There is drama in Eman’s life.
He is a love-child, who grew up partly in Japan under the care of a stepfather who treated him like his own child.
Eman finally met his biological father recently after 10 years, and their meeting proved fruitful-and cordial.
Mommy Dionisia, Pacquiao’s mother, was also thrilled meeting Eman for the first time.
‘You look like your father,’ said Mommy D of Eman. ‘Pogi.’
Jinkee, Pacquiao’s lawfully wedded wife, has reportedly accepted Eman with open arms.
In a viral video, Pacquiao was seen advising his son.
‘Just two things,’ he said to Eman. ‘First, you must have discipline at all times. Second, stay focused-leaving everything in the name of boxing.’
Wisdom that can only come from boxing’s only eight-division world champion.
How can Eman go wrong?
THAT’S IT Congrats to Kristine Inoncillo, Jovelyn Santos, Rosalyn Felipe and Rachelle Nierves of Royal Northwoods in San Rafael, Bulacan, for winning the recent Caddies Interclub Championship at the Pradera Verde in Lubao, Pampanga. Hat’s off also to Jong Arcano, the Inquirer Golf editor, who founded the event to give our country’s female caddies the golden opportunity to shine on their own and carve a niche in their own peculiar world. Cheers!