The country’s first transgender professional boxer will make his boxing debut in Indio Saturday.
Patricio Manuel is slated to make boxing history during a bout with Hugo Aguilar Saturday evening at the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino. Also known as “Cacahuate,” Manuel was a five-time national champion in the amateur women’s division prior to transitioning in 2013.
He also participated in the first-ever U.S. women’s boxing trials for the 2012 Olympics, but was disqualified from the tournament due to a shoulder injury.
Though Saturday marks Manuel’s first professional bout as a man, he first stepped into the ring as an amateur in 2016, and won. He was officially licensed by the California State Athletic Commission in September.
“It feels like a long time coming,” he told the Los Angeles Times. “But I’m still like, `Wow, we’re finally here. Finally at this point. I just feel incredibly fortunate to be in this position. To be able to enjoy all the sacrifice, all the work, all the doubt that came through over the years to really be here in this moment.”
Manuel and Aguilar will face off in the opening fight in a night of boxing that will include a WBA super featherweight world title eliminator main event between Carlos Morales and Rene Alvarado.