Actor Sylvester Stallone is seen at the Wild Card Boxing Gym after visiting Manny Pacquiao who is scheduled to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2, 2015. – See more at https://frame.inquirer.net
HOLLYWOOD—After going against Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao in his fight with an American boxer in November last year, Sylvester Stallone has learned his lesson and is now rooting for the Filipino boxing icon.
Best remembered for his mega-hit “Rocky” series, Stallone visited Pacquiao during his training at Wild Card Gym on Saturday afternoon (Sunday in Manila).
READ: Stallone drops by Pacquiao camp
Still fit and sprightly at 68 years old, Stallone was accorded the privilege of watching Pacquiao spar for 12 rounds against two partners. He left convinced that Pacquiao deserved his support.
Pacquiao has been tagged the underdog in his much-awaited collision with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Though he liked Pacquiao as a ring warrior, Stallone threw his support behind the unheralded Chris Algieri in their showdown in Macau last year.
As it turned out, however, Algieri proved to be no match for Pacquiao, who sent the New Yorker down to the canvas six times en route to a lopsided unanimous decision.
On his way out of the Wild Card parking lot, Stallone, driving his Mercedes Benz, stopped briefly, rolled down the car windows, and obliged for a quick chat with Philippine journalists.
Asked about how Pacquiao fared (in sparring), Stallone replied: “He’s the best, he’s the best.”
On whether Pacquiao could beat Mayweather, Stallone muttered, “Of course, of course.”
Then Stallone, also noted for his “Rambo” series, stepped on the gas and left.
Stallone thus joined the celebrities who have paid Pacquiao a visit in the course of his preparation for the fight with Mayweather.
Actors Mark Wahlberg, Liam Neeson, Robert Duvall, NBA great Karl Malone and UFC superstar Ronda Rousey earlier paid homage to Pacquiao.
READ: The Pacquiao Files ‘Celebrity Corner’
Originally posted: 7:02 PM | Sunday, April 19th, 2015
For more updates on Pacquiao-Mayweather “Fight of the Century,” visit The Pacquiao Files.