Manny Pacquiao, Jeremy Lin meeting slated

MANILA, Philippines—Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao, long the face of Asia in the US, is scheduled to meet with rising basketball sensation Jeremy Lin during a stop for one of his press conferences for his upcoming fight.

Lin, of Taiwanese descent, has been the story of the moment in the NBA as he came out of nowhere to steer the New York Knicks to a seven-game winning streak after being previously cut by two squads.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, has taken American pop culture by storm, ruling the pound-for-pound ranks on the way to becoming the only boxer to win world titles in eight different weight divisions. Along the way, he wowed US audiences with singing performances on national television.

He is scheduled to grace the 70th birthday tribute to three-time heavyweight champion and Muhammad “The Greatest” Ali at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

This was confirmed to the Inquirer by lawyer Jeng Gacal, Pacquiao’s chief of staff in Congress, before he left for Los Angeles last night.

Pacquiao is already in the United States by way of Vancouver with wife Jinkee and adviser Michael Koncz. The eight-division world champion will give his deposition on Friday regarding his defamation lawsuit against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Gacal said Pacquiao is also likely to sign the contract for his June 9 World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight against WBO light welterweight champion Tim Bradley on June 9, also at the MGM Grand.