Pacquiao shares gym with UFC star

MANILA, Philippines - There were two pound-for-pound champions under one roof yesterday.

One was Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino boxing champion, and the other was Georges St. Pierre, the French-Canadian king of mixed martial arts.

Pacquiao was inside his dressing room, gearing up for his daily workout when St. Pierre, known in the bloody world of MMA as GSP, made his way.

St. Pierre, in the country for a promotional gig, came in with a platoon of burly Filipino bodyguards and a couple of television crews. He smiled all the time.

Those who knew him did not waste the opportunity to have their pictures taken with the 29-year-old fighter, who had 170 lb of muscle stacked in a 5-foot-11 frame.

He was amiable outside the ring and looked far from the vicious fighter when inside.

St. Pierre, a friend of Pacquiao’s chief trainer, Freddie Roach, dropped by at the gym to break some sweat, because he said he makes sure he gets to work out everyday, regardless of where he’s at.

But before he started doing his thing, he stopped briefly at ringside, granted some interviews and watched Pacquiao pound the mitts with his American trainer.

“He’s the fastest guy I’ve ever seen in my life,” he told The STAR.

St. Pierre was obviously impressed with Pacquiao’s moves, but found it hard to compare himself with the Filipino boxing icon.

“As a boxer I think he’s the best, pound for pound. But mixed martial arts is a different sport. But if he were into jiu-jitsu and wrestling I’m sure he could do some amazing things,” said St. Pierre.

Would he ever get into the ring with Pacquiao?

“He’s gonna make me look like an old man,” said St. Pierre, again with a smile.