NBA legend Charles Barkley and boxing super star Manny Pacquiao. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — NBA legend Charles Barkley, storied career and all, claims that a day with the Filipino pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao was one of the highlights of his life.
Barkley, along with another NBA hall-of-famer Reggie Miller, talked about their morning with Pacquiao two weeks ago in passing during the telecast of the Miami-San Antonio game on TNT Friday morning (Manila time).
“We spent a day with Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach, and let me tell you something — one of the great days of my life,” said Barkley. “I love Manny Pacquiao but Freddie Roach is amazing.”
The NBA legends filmed a special segment with Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles as the boxer was preparing for his December 9 bout against Juan Manuel Marquez.
Miller and Barkley joined Pacquiao in his morning jog at Griffith Park before learning a thing or two in the ring in Roach’s gym.
And Barkley is convinced that he could do something that almost all of Pacquiao’s opponents hasn’t done.
“I don’t wanna brag, but there’s no doubt in my mind I could knock Manny Pacquiao out,” confidently said Barkley.
And naturally, Miller did not concur, saying “No, you can’t. Manny (Pacquiao) call me, let’s set this up.”