Viva Promotions chief Brendan Gibbons slowly stepping out of his famous dad's shadow
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 01 Jun 2025
Brendan Gibbons (R) and world champ Pedro Taduran.
CHICAGO -- A dynasty is a pompous term that the modest Sean Gibbons was quick to dismiss after he and his son Brandan, the president of Viva Promotions, collected three world championships for their respective stables last week.
Regardless of the label, whatever the Gibbons are building in boxing certainly looks like a winning brand.
Filipino boxing fans know Gibbons largely as the president of Manny Pacquiao Promotions (MPP), "the mechanic," and kingmaker of Filipino champions such as Jerwin Ancajas, Mark Magsayo and Marlon Tapales to name a few.
But Gibbons is more than just Manny's go-to guy. Before he got sucked in the blender of "Pacquiao Mania" the former fighter was already an established international promoter, manager and matchmaker.
GIBBONS AND MPP ARE A MARRIAGE MADE IN BOXING HEAVEN.
Under his watch, MPP has built an assembly-line of world-class fighters, creating an atmosphere for Filipino fighters to shine on the international stage while making fortunes to support their dreams and loved ones.
Sean Gibbons (R) with Manny Pacquiao.
Besides being MPP prez, Gibbons wears another hat as the president of Knucklehead Boxing, an outfit that has tentacles across the globe.
Instead of just waiting for his dad to hand him the keys to the kingdom, Brendan, with the guidance and shared knowledge from pops, slowly built his own company -- Viva Promotions.
This past week, the Gibbons' warriors racked up victories like balls on a billiards table.
Their run began last Saturday in Mexico where Pacquiao-promoted Willibaldo Garcia eked out a slim split decision win over Rene Calixto Bibiano to annex the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior bantamweight diadem.
TRIPLE CROWN.
A mere hours later on the other side of the universe, Brendan oversaw Pedro Taduran's successful defense of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimum weight title by outlasting Ginjiro Shigeoka in Osaka., Japan.
The Gibbons then completed the hat trick four days later when Mexico's Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez claimed the vacant IBF super featherweight belt by beating Japanese Masanori Rishiiki in Yokohama.
Brendan Gibbons poses with world champ Eduardo Nunez.
Strange things have happened in boxing's colored history over the years. But I can't recall a string of meaningful triumphs from a father-and-son duo that the Gibbons have pulled off.
Three titles in four days across two continents.
"All glory and credit goes to the fighters," Gibbons told SPIN.ph while thanking his partners at BXSTRS, Juan Carlos Torres and Promociones del Pueblo led by Oswaldo Kuchle and Matchroom.
It's hard to describe such a unique, unequaled feat, but one word might suffice.
Viva!!!
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
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