TEMECULA – Manny Pacquiao Promotions made a powerful statement in its United States debut, delivering an electric, sold-out night of boxing Saturday at Pechanga Resort Casino that saw a new regional champion crowned and the next generation of a legendary name step into the professional ring.
In the main event, Tijuana’s Lazaro Lorenzana kept his perfect record intact, improving to 19-0 with a commanding 10-round unanimous decision over veteran Luis Arias to capture the WBC Regional Middleweight Championship. Lorenzana, who was born and raised in nearby San Diego, applied relentless pressure from the start, winning decisively on the judges’ scorecards.
The bout was only the second in the U.S. for Lorenzana, but he fought with the confidence of a seasoned headliner. He effectively controlled the pace of the fight against Arias (22-6-1), a former IBF USBA Middleweight Champion. The judges scored the contest 100-90, 99-91, and 98-92, all in favor of Lorenzana.
“It was a tough fight getting in there with a veteran. It was an honor to share the ring with him,” Lorenzana said. “This fight was a steppingstone. My team and I know that we have big fights in the future. We are climbing to get to those.”
The co-main event featured one of the night’s most anticipated moments: the professional debut of Jimuel Pacquiao, the eldest son of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. Facing Chicago’s Brendan Lally, also making his pro debut, Pacquiao fought to a thrilling four-round majority draw that brought the capacity crowd to its feet.
The lightweight contest was a non-stop affair, with both fighters trading significant shots throughout. Two judges scored the bout an even 38-38, while a third saw it 39-37 for Pacquiao. The fight saw numerous momentum shifts as Pacquiao and Lally, a high school English teacher, stood toe-to-toe for all four rounds.
Manny Pacquiao, who was ringside, expressed pride in his son’s performance. “This is good for experience for Jimuel,” he said. “It’s not the ideal outcome, but I know he can do better and he will do better. My plan is to have him fight on my undercard so I can train with him throughout the whole camp.”
Jimuel Pacquiao acknowledged the pressure of the moment but welcomed the challenge. “During my ring walk, all I could think about was how many people were here,” he said. “Next time I fight, I’m going to push the pace much harder. I’m happy I was able to experience this.”
The night also featured several other compelling matchups. In the first title bout of the evening, San Bernardino’s Terry Washington (6-0) remained undefeated and won the WBC USA Light Flyweight Championship with a shutout unanimous decision over Ricardo Astuvilca (23-5). Washington, a decorated amateur, won every round on all three judges’ scorecards.
“I felt good out there,” Washington said. “He was in survivor mode. He was trying to survive and not win, so I wasn’t able to catch him. He was running too much.”
Tijuana’s Jose Russell (17-1) made a successful U.S. debut, stopping Saleto Henderson (10-3) in the sixth round of their flyweight bout. Russell scored two knockdowns in the first round and another in the fourth before the referee halted the contest at the request of Henderson’s corner after the sixth.
In an all-California super featherweight clash, Michael Bracamontes (14-2-1) of Garden Grove earned his fifth straight victory, securing a dominant unanimous decision over William King (6-3-2) of Lynwood.
The undercard delivered its own share of action. Las Vegas’ Rodrigo Mosquera III (2-0) stayed unbeaten with a four-round unanimous decision over Bryan Domingo. Victorville’s Sheldon Payne (1-1) earned his first professional win via a majority decision against Adil Gadzhiev (3-2). Following the main event, Javier Zamarron (11-0) defeated Alejandro Meniano by unanimous decision, and Hollywood’s Alexis Alvarado (9-1-1) also won by unanimous decision over Garen Diagan. The successful event marked a new chapter for Manny Pacquiao Promotions as it establishes its presence in the American boxing scene.
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