CAM Bynum was barely five months old when Manny Pacquiao won the first of his record eight world division titles.
So it was a proud moment for the Fil-Am NFL player to work out and train with the 46-year-old boxing legend as he primes up for his comeback fight and challenge for the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title against reigning champion Mario Barrios.
The 26-year-old Indianapolis Colts safety joined the Filipino great during his early morning run over the weekend and then dropped by the Wild Card gym in the afternoon to watch Pacquiao in his scheduled sparring session.
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Bynum, whose Filipina mother and maternal great-grandmother trace their roots to Leyte, said it was an honor to finally meet the former Philippine senator, and more so, earn the chance to work out side by side with him.
“It’s just a dream come true being able to be here surrounded by somebody that has inspired every single Filipino. More than anything, seeing how hard he’s working in the fight camp and with the fight coming up,” said Bynum.
“He’s in here putting in the hours and the time to be the greatest. For me as an athlete myself, that inspires me because I know I have to work just as hard as he is to be able to reach and inspire people just like he did.”
A product of University of California Berkeley, the 6-foot Bynum previously played for the Minnesota Vikings before being signed early this year by the Colts as an unrestricted free agent player to a four-year, $60 million contract.
Photo: Jhay Otamias
He was born in July of 1998, five months before Pacquiao scored a stunning eighth-round stoppage of Chatchai Sasakul in the province of Phutthamonthon, Thailand to win the World Boxing Council flyweight crown.
So growing up in Corona, California, Bynum admitted being a Pacquiao fan especially when he was at his peak years in his boxing career.
And his favorite among Pacquiao’s fights?
“I’d say probably the (Eric) Morales fights and probably (Antonio), Margarito just because he’s been with a bigger opponent,” mentioned Bynum.
Pacquiao fought Morales in an iconic trilogy from 2005-06, winning the last two fights by stoppages.
Four years later, he scored a dominant unanimous decision against Margarito before a sellout crowd at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas to claim the vacant WBC junior middleweight crown – the last of his record eight world division championship.
“I thought that was super cool, he fought at the Cowboys Stadium. The fact that he was able to do that, and just to be able to cope with those battles and wars, more so against Margarito, that’s one of my favorites also,” said Bynum.
“To see him really go against a bigger opponent and test his greatness showed why he was great.”
The NFL is currently in its offseason and won’t begin until this September. But that doesn’t stop Bynum from keeping in shape, and more so joining a boxing legend in his own training camp.
“That’s why I have this time. This week I was able to run in the morning, go and work the hill in Griffith Park,” he said. “To be able to be here in my offseason, to be able to train, but also come here and enjoy my time. It’s been fun.”
Bynum calls out for Filipino fans to support Filipino athletes worldwide.
“Continue to put God first and continue to support fellow Filipino athletes all across the world,” he said.
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