The honor of knowing Pacquiao

Being a boxing writer has been a true blessing for me.  Throughout my travels covering the sport, I have met some of the greatest fighters of all time. Many of them were kind enough to take a photo with me, some of them signed either a boxing glove or a photo, and most were just straight up good folks.  Out of the several boxing legends that I have met, one of them means the most.  Getting to know Manny Pacquiao on a personal level has got to be one of the most surreal experiences that I have ever had. 

I remember the first time I interviewed Pacquiao, it was a struggle.  Manny's English back then was not good at all, so I had to ask the questions several times in order for him to understand what I was asking.  Manny and I have laughed about this recently as both of us remember the interviews that we did back in the early days.  Over the years Manny's English has gotten better and better, and now he's a very easy guy to talk to.  My friendship with Freddie Roach has developed over the years as well.  My annual trips to the Wild Card Gym, and Freddie's kindness has enabled me to get exclusive access to Pacquiao, and it's been second to none.  Having this exclusive access to Manny has proved very beneficial. 

Each Pacquiao training camp, I have been honored to get the invite by Freddie to come on out to the Wild Card Gym.  I am still like a kid at Christmas time with each camp.  The last few years Manny has invited me to join him, and his team for dinner, and that my friends is another surreal moment. It's a moment that will be included in my next book, "My Road to Pacquiao" which is getting closer and closer to being finished.  

Earlier this year after one of Manny's training days, he invited me to the Thai Restaurant to have dinner with him and the team.  We were sitting at the table talking about how his life has changed. I remember Manny was signing hundreds of autographs for his fans who were all outside in the parking lot.  Manny looked up to me and said, 'Brad, this is my life now."  His life sure has changed over the years, but he the person has not.  Manny is still the same humble guy that I remember the first time I met him. 

Another great moment was when I surprised Manny by putting the great Roy Jones Jr on the phone for him.  I remember walking up to Manny and telling him, 'Manny, there is someone on the phone for you.'  Manny looked at me and smiled, and said, "Who is it?"  I said, 'Here just say hello.'  When Manny heard Roy Jones Jr on the line, his eyes lit up, and he smiled big.  The two legends talked for about 5 minutes, and the rest of the team sat and watched it all go down. 

These are just a few moments that I will never forget.  I do not take these moments for granted, I will remember them for the rest of my life.  Sure there are boxing groupies out there that like to follow fighters around, and there's nothing wrong with that, but to get to know a legend, or legends in my case, on a personal level is something that I will take to my grave one day, and there is nobody that can ever take that away.

I remember one time this poor excuse of a man once told me, "Brad you will never be a writer."  Hearing such ignorance has only made me work harder at proving him wrong. Some years later I have published a book, contributed to two different national boxing magazines, and run a successful growing boxing news source. Not too bad for someone who will never be a writer.  My late father once told me, "Brad if someone ever tells you that you can't do something, do it better than they do."  Here's to you pops, and thanks for great advice.