Former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Tim Tebow paid Manny Pacquiao’s training camp a visit on Saturday. Tebow watched Pacquiao work out for nearly three hours in a gym session that including seven rounds of sparring and eight rounds of mitt work at Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif.
Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) is in deep training for his highly-anticipated May 2 battle against undefeated Floyd “Money” Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) which will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“It was the first time they had ever met and yet it seemed they had known each other forever the way they immediately embraced each other,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.
“Manny’s training session was phenomenal and inspiring,” said Tebow, according to Dyan Castillejo, who recorded the scene for the Filipino television network ABS-CBN.
“After training they had lunch next door until 7 p.m. They had so much to talk about. It was so much fun watching them have so much fun with each other. They have so much in common in terms of religious beliefs, philanthropy, being professional athletes and their Filipino backgrounds.”
Indeed they do. Tebow and Pacquiao sent out photos of themselves at Wild Card via their own Instagram accounts.
“Awesome being with my Filipino and Christian brother @emmanuelpacquiao. #inspiration” wrote Tebow, while Pacquiao posted, “Good to be with my brother in Christ @TimTebow.”
“It was an unbelievable scene yesterday,” said Roach. “Tim Tebow is a great competitor, a standup guy who embraces his responsibility for being a good role model. He and Manny shared a lot yesterday. It was terrific.”
