Choo Sung Hoon went to the Philippines looking for advice from Manny Pacquiao. Somewhere between the Rolex collection, motorcycle garage and a private boxing lesson, he realized the two might have a little too much in common.
There are probably worse ways to prepare for your final MMA fight than hanging out at Manny Pacquiao’s mansion.
Choo Sung Hoon traveled to the Philippines with a fairly serious goal. At 51, the Korean-Japanese MMA legend is preparing for what he says will be the final fight of his career, and he wanted an opportunity to learn from one of the greatest boxers of all time.
Pacquiao, now 47, seemed like the perfect person to ask.
Then Choo got to his house.
And things got a little distracted.
Because before Choo could get too deep into fighting, he discovered Manny Pacquiao likes motorcycles.
Choo likes motorcycles.
Pacquiao collects Rolexes.
Choo collects Rolexes.
Pacquiao still wants to fight despite being closer to 50 than 40.
Well… we already know how Choo feels about that.
By the end of the visit, Choo wasn’t just meeting one of his boxing heroes.
He may have found his Filipino twin.
Wait, This Is the Small House?
First, there is Pacquiao’s house itself.
Choo is invited to one of Pacquiao’s properties in Manila, described in the episode as approximately 17,000 square feet.
That’s already absurdly large.
Then Choo learns something even more absurd.
This is apparently Pacquiao’s smallest house.
What follows feels a little like combat sports MTV Cribs.
There’s a huge dining room overlooking the pool, a sauna, garden, music room and private gym. Pacquiao’s office doubles as a mini museum of his boxing career, filled with championship memorabilia from the only eight-division world champion in boxing history.
Pacquiao even presents Choo with a bottle of wine bearing his name and championship belts.
Choo immediately decides this thing is basically a family heirloom.
The property reportedly has more than 20 staff members.
Again:
Small house.
But the size of Pacquiao’s house isn’t actually what gets Choo most excited.
That would be the toys.
Of Course They Both Love Motorcycles
Choo asks Pacquiao what he does when he isn’t boxing.
Pacquiao’s answer?
Motorcycles.
You can practically see Choo’s eyes light up.
Choo has gotten into motorcycles himself, and Pacquiao tells him that he has more than 30 bikes at his hometown property. Pacquiao is particularly fond of BMW motorcycles, and before long they’re discussing the possibility of riding together when Pacquiao comes to Japan.
This is approximately where Choo starts realizing something.
This guy is basically him.
Later, they reach the garage.
There’s a Rolls-Royce sitting there, because of course there is.
But Choo quickly becomes much more interested when Pacquiao points out his motorcycle.
“We’re identical,” Choo jokes.
And they haven’t even gotten to the watches yet.
Of Course They Have the Same Rolex, Too
Choo knew before the visit that Pacquiao was a serious watch collector.
So naturally, he came prepared.
He deliberately wore one of his own Rolexes.
Pacquiao shows Choo some of his collection, including the roughly $300,000 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Giraffe” highlighted in the episode.
Then Choo notices another Rolex.
Hold on.
He has that one too.
The two compare watches, with Choo explaining that his version is customized while Pacquiao’s is the factory-set model.
At this point, Choo can’t contain himself anymore.
“He’s just like me!”
Rolexes?
Check.
Motorcycles?
Check.
A questionable willingness to acknowledge one’s age?
We’re getting there.
Then Manny Pacquiao Starts Coaching Him
Eventually, Choo remembers there was another reason he came to the Philippines.
He has a fight to prepare for.
And suddenly our episode of Combat Sports Cribs becomes a private boxing lesson with Manny Pacquiao.
Choo asks for advice ahead of his final MMA fight, and Pacquiao starts with something more fundamental than punching technique.
Study your opponent.
Pacquiao tells Choo to identify the movements his opponent repeats—the punches he habitually throws, how he reacts and the tendencies that appear over and over again.
Once those habits become predictable, Choo can drill his response until it becomes instinctive.
Then Pacquiao watches Choo move.
And it doesn’t take long before the corrections start coming.
Choo is standing too upright. Pacquiao wants his center of gravity lower, making it easier to move laterally, retreat and generate power.
He demonstrates how Choo should remain relaxed before applying tension at the right moment in his punches. He also emphasizes lateral movement rather than unnecessarily charging forward.
Then 47-year-old Pacquiao starts demonstrating the footwork himself.
Choo tries to follow.
It’s not quite the same.
Pacquiao is still ridiculously fast.
For a few minutes, Choo Sung Hoon isn’t a celebrity, veteran MMA star or the guy walking around Pacquiao’s mansion comparing Rolexes.
He’s just a fighter trying to keep up with Manny Pacquiao.
Maybe the Similarities Go a Little Deeper
The motorcycles and watches make for an entertaining running joke.
But over dinner, Choo discovers that he and Pacquiao have something considerably more important in common.
Choo asks how much longer Pacquiao wants to fight.
Pacquiao’s answer:
Until 50.
Remember, Pacquiao is 47.
Choo is 51 and preparing for what is supposed to be his final MMA fight.
When Choo asks why Pacquiao still wants to compete, the answer isn’t particularly complicated.
It’s not about money.
Pacquiao is competitive.
He still wants to fight.
If anyone at that dinner table understands that feeling, it’s probably Choo Sung Hoon.
Here are two men who have spent most of their adult lives competing in combat sports. They’ve already accomplished more than enough. Neither needs another fight to establish his legacy.
And yet…
Here they are.
Still training.
Still talking about the next fight.
Still convinced there’s something left.
Rolexes, Motorcycles and One Big Difference
There is one place where the conversation takes a more serious turn.
Sitting inside a mansion filled with reminders of everything boxing has given Pacquiao, Choo asks him about his dream.
Pacquiao doesn’t mention another watch, motorcycle or house.
He talks about helping people.
Pacquiao discusses his efforts to provide free housing for low-income families through Pacman Village and his desire to continue expanding that work.
Choo’s response is simple:
“You’re a hero.”
Later, Pacquiao explains his perspective on money and legacy. Eventually, he says, everyone disappears. What matters is leaving something behind that can continue inspiring people after you’re gone.
It’s an unexpectedly reflective moment in an episode that spent a good amount of time admiring very expensive watches.
And maybe that’s what Choo actually takes home from the trip.
Choo Sung Hoon May Have Met His Match
Choo went to the Philippines looking for Manny Pacquiao the boxer.
He certainly got that.
He received a private lesson from one of the greatest fighters ever, learned how Pacquiao studies opponents and got a firsthand look at the footwork and speed that somehow remain very much intact at 47.
But he also met Manny Pacquiao the guy.
And apparently, Choo really likes this guy.
They love motorcycles.
They love watches.
They own the same Rolex.
And despite having absolutely nothing left to prove, both apparently need someone to remind them that professional fighting is generally supposed to have a retirement age.
Maybe Choo Sung Hoon didn’t find his Filipino twin after all.
He found something potentially more dangerous:
a new friend who’s just as bad at retiring as he is.
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