Bob Dylan watches Manny spar

MANILA, Philippines - Music icon Bob Dylan came to watch Manny Pacquiao train at the Wild Card Gym yesterday.

It’s a common thing for celebrities to drop by at the famous Hollywood sweatshop and watch the Filipino superstar in training.

But to have the American legend in the building is quite extra ordinary.

Dylan, whose songs “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a Changin’” became synonymous to US civil rights and anti-war movement in the 1960s, watched Pacquiao in sparring.

The 72-year-old Dylan also posed for photographs with Pacquiao. They stood side-by-side and held their fists closely together.

Later on, trainer Freddie Roach said, “I think a hard rain’s a-gonna fall on Tim Bradley.”

“Huge thrill for everyone here,” publicist Fred Sternburg tweeted.

Pacquiao is in the final phase of his training for an April 12 rematch with American Tim Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Many celebrities have come to watch Pacquiao in training over recent years, including Lou Diamond Phillips, Mark Wahlberg, Mickey Rourke, Jean Claude Van Damme and Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

Others who came to see Pacquiao up close include Jeremy Rener, Denzel Washington, Steven Seagal, Robert Duval, Jeremy Piven, Michael Payne, Don Rickles, Christian Bale and Jessica Alba.

Throw in other NBA stars like Reggie Miller, Kevin Garnette, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, baseball superstar Jerek Jeter, and boxing greats Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.

Pacquiao is in his last four weeks of training for the fight, and normally they don’t let anyone else in when he spars.

Not when you’re Bob Dylan.