Shawn Porter has traded shots with some of the very best fighters, and not all of them happened under the massive spotlights of a professional event. ‘Showtime’ has often shown his abilities at the gym, and one time he did that was during his famous sparring with Manny Pacquiao back in 2009.

Pacquiao recently announced his retirement after losing to Yordenis Ugas in August. He departed as one of the all-time legends of the sport, and having sparred with him, Porter seems to cherish the memory even to this day.

Former welterweight champion Shawn Porter is on the verge of becoming a world champion again. Ahead of his next fight, the American star shed light on how he landed up against Pacquiao.

In one of his old clips, Porter said, “I had some great sessions with Manny [Pacquiao]. I will tell a quick story about my sparring session with Manny [Pacquiao], I went out to Hollywood. Long story short, I went out to Hollywood. Somebody said, ‘Hey! Manny Pacquiao is getting ready to fight Miguel Cotto. You guys should come out.”

“I think Freddie Roach would like him and want to take Shawn [Porter] over to the Philippines to train with Manny.”

The outcome of the sparring turned beneficial for Pacquiao, who TKOed Miguel Cotto to grab the WBO welterweight title. Meanwhile, Porter also learned a lot while being just 1-year-old in pro-boxing back then. Today, Porter can look to become the WBO champion next, and the lessons from Manny Pacquiao can still come in handy.

Read More | ‘Mom I’mma Be a Millionaire’- Terence Crawford’s Mother Recalls Her Son’s Childhood Days

Has Manny Pacquiao ever fought Shawn Porter?

Technically, sparring is not considered a fight. A pro-bout is very different from what we see during sparring sessions. However, sparring opens up several features of a fighter and is undoubtedly a valuable part of pinpointing a fighter’s abilities. Thus, Porter is well aware of what Pacquiao can do inside the ring. Porter has never shied away from praising ‘Pac-Man.’

In another interview, he recalled the eight-division champion to have immense talent and said, “I felt like he was invincible.” Pacquiao, an all-time -legend, is now done with the sport. Aged 42, he has earned it all and will run for President in his home country. Hence, lucky were those who could share the ring with him.

Is Manny Pacquiao a billionaire?

Coming from sheer dirt, Pacquiao is now one of the richest pugilists of all time. He produced the wealthiest boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather when the two locked horns in 2015. But the Philippine Senator has reportedly donated a lot to charity and is far from becoming a billionaire. According to recent findings, Pacquiao has amassed a $220 million network.

The fight against Mayweather got him a whopping $130 million. So, it’s not just his in-ring achievements but also the financial success that sets Manny Pacquiao apart from everyone else.

Shawn Porter still needs a lot to achieve before seeing a similar fortune as the ‘Pac-Man.’

Watch This Story: Top 5 Best Selling PPV Fights of Floyd Mayweather’s Boxing Career