Former NBA player Dwight Howard visit Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao. –HANDOUT PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Dwight Howard is making the most out of his stay in the Philippines before representing the country in the Dubai International Basketball Tournament next week.
On Friday, the former NBA veteran visited the fighting pride of the Philippines, boxing’s eight-division world champion, Manny Pacquiao.
Howard shared his interaction with the Sarangani-bred fighter on X (Formerly Twitter). He even joked about having Pacquiao as his personal trainer for a “fight” with Jake Paul.
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“I saw @MannyPacquiao was in Taiwan while I was in the Philippines, how ironic. Long story short, it all worked out,” wrote the former Los Angeles Laker.
“I finally found a trainer to prepare me for this Jake Paul fight. Who ya got winning?”
I saw @MannyPacquiao was in Taiwan while I was in the Philippines how ironic 😂 long story short it all worked out and I finally found a trainer to prepare me for this Jake Paul fight 🕺🏾🥊 who ya got winning 👀 pic.twitter.com/KxTl37snOV
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) January 11, 2024
The Strong Group import also teased an episode of his podcast with the Filipino boxing legend and fellow foreign reinforcement Andray Blatche.
Howard posted a video of him and Blatche a few hours later where they asked Pacquiao which he thought came first between the chicken and the egg, which made the boxing icon chuckle.
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It will be be a busy first quarter for both athletes with Howard set to fly to Dubai in a few days alongside the Philippine side squad which includes UAAP Season 86 Kevin Quiambao, La Salle product Justine Baltazar and fellow NBA journeyman Andre Roberson.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, is set for an exhibition match with Thailand’s Buakaw Banchamek in April.