Trans boxer Pat “Cacahuate” Manuel is will make history on Saturday when he competes in his first professional fight at Fantasy Springs Casino near Palm Springs.
In a post shared on Instagram, 34-year-old Manuel says he’s set to be the “first visible transgender man to enter the ring as a professional boxer.”
“It’s been a long time coming,” Manuel says, “and I’m super excited to show the world that I deserve the opportunity to compete against men just like anyone else.”
Manuel first made headlines when the Los Angeles Times chronicled his transition. He started his transition in 2013 and had surgery in 2014.
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Prior to his transition, Manuel made the Olympic trials for the 2012 U.S. women’s boxing team, but was sidelined due to an injury.
He has been petitioning California for some time to allow him to fight professionally as a trans man. Now, that dream that is finally being realized.
Tomorrow, he will compete in a four-round super featherweight bout against Hugo Aguilar, a professional boxer from Mexico.
Scroll down for pics from Manuel’s Instagram page…
Related: These smokin’ hot trans bodybuilders in the new doc “Man Made” have us totally parched
Tombear
I hope he does well.
mr guy
Is T prematurely aging? Ive noticed that a lot in transmen. I wonder if it’s the same in bio males who take extra….otherwise I’d be tempted
Kangol
Good luck to him, and I hope he wins.
Jack Meoff
I think this is awesome news but I can’t help thinking about the outcry there would be if it were a trans woman who wanted to compete against other women like the case in Australia when a trans woman wanted to play in women’s rugby. People didn’t want a ‘man’ competing against women because they thought it was an unfair advantage.
That said I hope he does well but no matter what he has already won.
Prax07
Oooo a man will be punching a woman without media outrage!?! Can’t wait to see her get her butt handed to her.
Raymundo
Sir, there was no need to say that. It only makes you look asinine and immature.
Kangol
Sorry, the joke’s on you. Patricio Manuel won a unanimous decision tonight over his opponent, Hugo Aguilar. So he handed his opponent’s butt to him. Congrats, Pat Manuel!
designdude
This man is smart, inspirational and gorgeous!
Wish Pat great success in the ring on his professional debut!
Thanks for the great profile.
Bob LaBlah
This article makes me wonder what ever happened to ol’ GC-85. Surely you girls remember her. lol