Rolando Dy opens up on estranged dad Rolando Navarrete: 'I don't hate him'

Rolando Dy and Rolando Navarrete’s father-and-son story is far from the usual heartwarming tale seen in many sports narratives.

It’s not like LeBron James sharing the court with Bronny. It’s not like Naoya Inoue being groomed by Shingo Inoue to become one of the greatest boxers of his generation.

Dy’s reality is far more complicated.

The 34-year-old BKB (bare knuckle boxing) world champion said he can count on his hands the number of times he has met his father.

“Siguro in my life, nagkita kami wala pang sampung beses. Siguro mga pang-walo ‘to or pang-siyam,” said Dy, who reunited with Navarrete during the 3rd Annual Pacquiao-Elorde Awards Night on Thursday evening.

“I don’t hate him,” Dy clarified.

“Kasi ‘yung mga fans, gumagawa sila ng stories in their head. They’re assuming na meron talaga kaming relationship, na lumaki ako sa kanya, iniwan ko siya, which is not true. Wala talaga. Hindi talaga ako lumaki sa kanya.”

“Wala akong tatay [na kinalakihan] since 10 months old, but I know him. I know that he’s my father. He knows me as one of his children na hindi niya talaga nakikita.”

“We just don’t have any father-son relationship. Pero I don’t hate him. In fact, nagmamano pa rin ako sa kanya. I pay my respect.”

Dy may not have grown up under the guidance of the “Bad Boy from Dadiangas,” but the talent and fighting spirit clearly run in the blood.

Like his father before him, he now calls himself a champion, albeit in a different arena.

He is set to defend his BKB super welterweight title against two-weight boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi at BKB 54: Mayhem in Manchester on May 16.

Despite his biological father’s absence growing up, Dy insists there is no room for bitterness in his heart.

“I’m grateful for the genetics he gave me. I even shared the gospel with him because I’m a Christian man. I prayed for him.”

“During our first meeting, I told him, ‘Kung meron ka mang kasalanan noong nakaraan, Jesus will forgive that.’”

—JKC, GMA News