Jake’s a two-time boxing champ

YOUNG Bendigo boxer Jake May has received the opportunity of a lifetime by rubbing shoulders with world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

May and his trainer Frank Pianto were among less than 50 guests at a press conference in Melbourne last week, promoting Pacquiao's World Boxing Organisation welterweight title defence against Australian Jeff Horn in Brisbane on July 2.

The press conference was followed by a quick meet and greet and photo opportunity for the Bendigo fighter and his trainer.

PIanto said the pair were still on a high after meeting the Filipino champion, who is the only boxer to have won 11 world titles across eight different weight divisions.

"Jake couldn't believe it - I don't think it sunk in until we were actually there," he said.

"It was pretty exclusive, probably 40 to 50 people.

"There was a handful of press and handful of celebrities like (former AFL star) Jonathon Brown and (Collingwood captain) Scott Pendlebury."

The Bendigo pair also met legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum, who is famously known for working with Muhammad Ali throughout his career.

A full-house of 55,000 is expected to pack Suncorp Stadium for the Pacquiao-Horn fight.

That figure would top the current Australian record boxing crowd of 38,000, who saw Ghanian Azumah Nelson beat Jeff Fenech at Melbourne’s Princes Park in 1992.

The opportunity to meet Pacquiao came just a few weeks after May won a silver medal in the 46kg weight class at the national junior boxing championships in Adelaide.

The 15-year-old was narrowly beaten in the final against a now three-time Australian junior champion from Queensland, with more than 30 previous bouts under his belt.

"He nearly pinched it too - he got off to a real slow start and that little bot of inexperience probably cost him," Pianto said.

"But he certainly had the formula to beat that guy and probably will the next time they meet.

"We have Jake figthing the best kids in the country and he hasn't even had 10 fights yet.

"Just to get a silver the first time around was great - we didn't have any expectations of winning an Australian title first-up.

"At 16 next year, he has a real good shot at winning a national title."