Jimuel Pacquiao tackles MMA veteran in 2nd pro fight

MANILA, Philippines – Jimuel Pacquiao intends to show his true worth in the ring on Friday, April 3 (Saturday, April 4, Philippine time) when he tangles with Darrick Gates at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.

The 25-year-old Pacquiao, the eldest child of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, salvaged a majority draw with Brendan Lally in his pro debut at the same venue on November 29, 2025, his “average” performance largely attributed to lack of focus and forced training interruptions as his partner, Carolina Pimentel, was about to give birth.

With his esteemed father Manny, mother Jinkee, Carolina, and four-month-old daughter Clara expected to be present at ringside, the young Pacquiao looks to give his all against Gates, an MMA (mixed martial arts) fighter with a 1-7 record, who lost his first and only boxing bout to Jursly Vargas in March 2025.

Gates, 36, is 3 inches taller than Jimuel at 5-foot-9 and has a longer reach, posing a problem to solve in the four-round lightweight encounter supporting Pedro Taduran’s defense of the IBF (International Boxing Federation) minimumweight belt against Mexican Gustavo Perez Alvarez.

Jimuel weighed in at 136.2 pounds on Thursday, April 2, with Gates checking in at 133.8.

The fight card is being staged by Manny Pacquiao Promotions, headed by Sean Gibbons. – Rappler.com