Celebrity Fans and Publicists Want a Piece of Manny Pacquiao

Hollywood celebrities and publicists are trooping to Wild Card Gym to either shake hands with the Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao or to invite him for guesting in their TV programs and other live sporting events.

World-famous Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao may have to turn down requests from fellow celebrities and publicists for an audience or appearance by the Filipino boxing icon. Fellow sportsmen and boxing aficionados are trying to find a way to shake hands and be photographed with the famous celebrity boxer. Shaquille O'Neal was reported to have offered his services to lead Pacquiao into the ring at the MGM Grand on November 14. Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said 'he sounded he really wanted to do it'. Just a few days ago, another NBA superstar Ron Artest visited Manny Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym while the popular boxer was doing his workout with Freddie Roach. mb.com reports

Fred Sternburg, hired by Top Rank to lead Pacquiao’s publicity machine swears he’s never seen anything like the past few days as demand for the Filipino boxing icon continues to grow.

Another celebrity who wanted a piece of Pacquiao is film star Jeremy Piven who watched Pacquiao train last Friday at the Wild Card Gym. The mb.com report added: 'In the coming days, Pacquiao will either have to politely turn down or honor the request and invitation of men such as television host Jimmy Kimmel and Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss, who has invited Pacquiao to sit with him in his private box when the ball club plays Memphis this Friday at the Staples Center'. Manny Pacquiao is winding up his training and physical conditioning at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood in preparation for his date with Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico on November 14.The pound-for-pound king has spent half of his training schedule in his homeland, the Philippines before moving to Los Angles last weekend for the final leg of his training. Pacquiao's opponent Miguel Cotto has just planed in from Tampa Florida to resume his training before facing the pound for pound king at the MGM Grand garden arena. At stake in the Pacquiao-Cotto match dubbed 'Firepower' is the welterweight belt of the Puerto Rican boxer Pacquiao is aiming for his seventh win in seven different weight classes.