Stallone visits Pacquiao, calls Pinoy ring champ ‘the best’

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao (right) clowns with Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. (FROM MANNY PACQUIAO’S TWITTER ACCOUNT)

HOLLYWOOD — After going against Manny Pacquiao the last time out, Sylvester Stallone has learned his lesson and is now siding with the Filipino icon. 

Best remembered for his mega-hit Rocky series, the legendary Stallone visited Pacquiao on his training at Wild Card Gym Saturday afternoon. 

Still fit and sprightly at 68 years old, Stallone was accorded the privilege of watching Pacquiao spar for 12 rounds against two partners and left convinced that Pacquiao deserved his support. 

For another, Pacquiao has been tagged the underdog in his much-awaited collision with Floyd Mayweather on May 2 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. 

Although he likes Pacquiao as a ring warrior, Stallone threw his support behind the unheralded Chris Algieri in their showdown in Macau last November. 

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 media. 

Asked about how Pacquiao fared (in sparring), Stallone replied: He’s the best, he’s the best.” 

On whether Pacquiao can beat Mayweather, Stallone muttered, “of course, of course.” 

Then Stallone stepped on the gas and left. 

Stallone thus joined the rank of celebrities who have paid Pacquiao a visit in the course of the boxer’s preparations for his fight with Mayweather.

Actors Mark Wahlberg, Liam Neeson, Robert “The Godfather” Duvall, NBA great Karl Malone and UFC superstar Ronda Rousey earlier dropped by Pacquiao’s training camp and paid homage to the biggest challenger of Mayweather.