In November 2011, Kobe Bryant made a memorable stop at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood to watch Manny Pacquiao train. The visit brought two of the world’s most prominent athletes together during the peak of their careers.

At the time, Bryant was the cornerstone of the Los Angeles Lakers, while Pacquiao was deep into preparations for his trilogy bout against Juan Manuel Marquez. The Lakers star observed Pacquiao’s workout from a reserved area as the Filipino boxing champion completed a seven-round sparring session with three different partners.

Security and preparation for the visit

The visit drew attention along Vine Street, with the Los Angeles Police Department providing security outside the gym as fans gathered nearby. Trainer Freddie Roach noted that Bryant’s team had arranged the visit in advance. Roach described Bryant as polite and low-key, adding that security concerns were minor.

Bryant stayed for about an hour, watching Pacquiao fine-tune his form ahead of his November 12 fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The interaction underscored a professional connection between the two athletes, who were endorsing the same global sports apparel brand at the time and had previously appeared together in commercial projects.

A historic moment for Wild Card Boxing Club

Earlier that year, Pacquiao had attended an NBA exhibition game in Manila where Bryant headlined, strengthening the link between the two stars. The Wild Card Boxing Club had become a popular destination for celebrities, politicians, and athletes interested in watching Pacquiao train. Bryant’s visit became one of the gym’s most talked-about moments, symbolizing a unique intersection between boxing and basketball.

Looking back, Kobe Bryant visiting Manny Pacquiao remains a vivid snapshot of sports history, capturing a brief but remarkable crossover between two global icons in a modest Hollywood gym.

Original report by Nick Giongco/ Tempo