Former world champion Shawn Porter has fond memories of his time in the Philippines years ago when he traveled there as a young man and sparred with Manny ‘Pacman’ in his prime.

Porter has been linked with a potential fight with Pacquiao next year but speaking to a group of journalists in an open media scrum at his gym in Las Vegas, he appears to be good friends with Pacquiao and is in no real rush to fight him.

He said of his time sparring Pacquiao years ago:

“Fun. It was fun. I was young. I think the first time I sparred with him I was 22. It was absolutely fun man. It wasn’t a culture shock going over there to the Philippines. It was just absolutely fun. Getting in the ring with him, challenging him, backing him up, doing what I do. It was fun. I haven’t seen him in a long time. I’d just like to see him and sit down and have a chat with him.”

Porter takes on Danny Garcia for the vacant WBC welterweight title in October.

Pacquiao is still considering offers from various promoters with latest reports suggesting that a rematch with his old rival Floyd Mayweather might even be possible for 2019.