DIONESIA PACQUIAO, popularly known as Mommy Dionesia or Mommy D, won’t be at ringside to root for her son Manny Pacquiao in his title fight with unified champion Errol Spence Jr. on August 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I think she’s not going to travel to the US because of the long hours of travel and we cannot afford her to get tired that much,” her other son, Overseas Filipino Workers Partylist Rep. Bobby told BusinessMirror on Thursday. “We are not going to take the risk because of her age, especially at this time of pandemic.”
Mommy D, now 72, was a common fixture in almost all of Pacquiao’s fights, profusely praying and cheering for the now sitting Philippine senator.
Pacquiao, who many say could be in his last professional fight, is pitted against the unbeaten International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council welterweight champion (27-0 with 21 knockouts) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Bobby Pacquiao, a retired pro boxer with 31-15-1 win-loss-draw record with 16 knockouts, will be flying to the US along with another Pacquiao sibling, Sarangani Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao, later this month.
Their father Rosalio, 64, will also watch Pacquiao fight on TV.
Pacquiao (62-7-2 record with 39 knockouts) arrived in Los Angeles on Monday and immediately started training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym.
Reigning World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero and Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo will be joining Pacquiao in training, according to international matchmaker Sean Gibbons.