All Photos By Alexander Acosta
Ahead of Manny Pacquiao Promotions’ (MPP) highly anticipated U.S. debut on Saturday, November 29 at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif, multiple competitors gathered at the esteemed Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood yesterday and at Knuckleheads Boxing Gym in Las Vegas last Friday to showcase their skills and address media.
MPP’s U.S. debut will feature a WBO International Featherweight Title clash between Elijah Pierce (21-2, 17 KOs) and Lorenzo Parra (23-1-1 17 KOs), while Jimuel Pacquiao will make his long-awaited professional debut against fellow pro debutant Brendan Lally in the co-main event.
In the spirit of giving with the holidays around the corner, MPP has also announced that they have teamed up with Marines Toys for Tots foundation in the leadup to fight night. Wild Card Boxing Club now through November 29 and Pechanga Resort Casino on November 29 will serve as donation sites for fans to drop off an unwrapped gift for children in need.
Very few tickets for Manny Pacquiao Promotions’ U.S. debut remain at Pechanga.com and Ticketmaster.com. VIP and Platinum Experience packages are available at MannyPacquiaoPromotions.com.
For more information on how to contribute to Toys for Tots, visit www.toysfortots.org.
Here’s what the competitors had to say:
Lorenzo Parra:
“I feel good and I’m healthy. I’m going to get the W God willing. Mentally I feel great as well. My father passed a couple of weeks ago so I’m fighting for him. Venezuela will be supporting me for this fight.”
Jimuel Pacquiao:
“I learn from the best, my dad. Boxing is really tough and it takes a lot of discipline. You have to be consistent. Eat, sleep, train. My father is a very big influence on my training, especially on my footwork. He is always watching. I try to take some of his moves.”
On his professional debut “I’m really excited. I’ve been waiting for this for a really long time. My coaches and my team have been working for this and I’m excited to go in there and show people what we’ve been working on.”
“The pressure is definitely there. People like to compare because my dad was already world champion by the time he was 20. I try to tune it out. I’m my own person and I’m at my own pace. I have a really good team around me.”
Lazaro Lorenzana:
“I’ve prepared myself for this fight really well. I went out to Mexico City for three and a half weeks. I’m ready to make a statement.”
“I have a tough test in front of me. Luis [Arias] is a very well-known fighter and a well-respected veteran in the game. I approach every fight with the same tenacity, and this is no different. Luis’ experience motivated me to push myself even farther this training camp and I can’t wait for Saturday, November 29 to show the world what I’m made of once again. These opportunities do not come by very often, so I make sure I’m prepared to capitalize.”
Terry Washington:
“Training has been good. I’ve been putting in that work and ready to go next week. With the fight being so close to my hometown of San Bernadino, I’m ready to be the hometown hero. All of my good folks will be there.”
“It doesn’t matter who they put in front of me. I’m going to keep proving that I am one of the best rising stars in my division and that I am on my way to becoming one of the greats.”
“My nickname is “Terrible” because it’s terrible for my opponents when they face me.”
Javier Zamarron:
“Nothing has really changed in my training for this fight. I do everything my coaches ask of me. They’re the ones with the plan. I’m from Milwaukee but I come out to Riverside for my camps to train with Robert Garcia. He was just voted trainer of the year, so I know I have one of the best teams out there.”
“I’ve been under the bright lights before, so this is just another day. I won a national championship right before I turned professional.”
Luis Arias:
“Lorenzana has only fought in Mexico for the most part which is a red flag. He’s also never been signed to a big promoter which is another red flag. He’s pumped up his record in Mexico. He’ll be pumped up to face me. Everyone in the boxing community know what I bring to the table.”
“The opponents he’s faced versus mine is night and day. He’s fighting lower-level guys while I’m coming off a fight against an undefeated contender. I also went to India earlier this year and they threw me their best guy. This is my third fight this year and I’m going to show everyone why I’m talked about in the boxing world.”
Rodrigo Mosquera III:
“We’re two weeks away. I’ve been training very hard and camp has gone great. Come November 29 we’re ready to go. I listen to my coaches and my dad.”
“I don’t know much about my opponent, but I know he’s coming to fight and so am I. I’m not underestimating him.”
“It’s an honor to fight on Manny Pacquiao Promotions’ U.S. debut card. Since I was a kid, I’ve always looked up to him. He is one of my favorite fighters so it’s a dream come true.”
