By Dong Secuya

CEBU CITY – During Tuesday's dinner hosted by Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao at his residence in General Santos City, where he accepted his diamond-encrusted WBO super champion belt from WBO Vice-President Leon Panoncillo Jr, Pacquiao talked about his first time encounter with pound-for-pound king and fellow superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr., which took place on January 27th at a basketball game at the American Airlines Arena, and later that evening when Floyd visited him at his hotel suite.

“I had nothing to do because our flight [back to LA] was canceled,” said Pacquiao who participated as one of the judges during the 63rd Miss Universe beauty pageant held at the Florida International University Arena in Miami two nights earlier.

“So we went to see the Miami vs Milwaukee basketball game and I was surprised to see Floyd across the court. Well, not that surprised because I know Floyd has a house in Miami and he always watches the Heat games. I also learned Floyd and his friends usually sit where we sat. When Floyd approached me across the court, we were surrounded by a lot of people. Maybe they're thinking that we're going to fight, there and then.

"Later that night he visited me at my hotel. He did most the talking, and I just listened. I think Floyd is essentially a good person, a nice person,” Pacquiao, who is known as a man of few words, humble and compassionate, observed of Floyd. “However, when Floyd is surrounded by his people, his attitude changes and he becomes bossy."

Pacquiao's observation jives with that of Mayweather's former assistant and trusted confidante, Tasha Robinson-White, who wrote a book about Mayweather titled “Right Hand to the Champ” and chronicled Mayweather's life when Robinson-White was employed by Mayweather for 12 years until 2009.

Robinson-White described Mayweather as “respectful, cool and generous” who showered her with extravagant gifts, jewelry and designer clothes. Robinson-White also detailed the other side of Mayweather's persona as that of a controlling, obsessed and unpredictable individual.

When they met face to face, Pacquiao and Mayweather discussed the terms for their proposed fight including revenue sharing, type of gloves, date, rematch clause, etc. But Pacquiao said these things need to be out of the public's eye for now as per Mayweather's request.

Dong Secuya covers boxing for PhilBoxing.com