Manny Pacquiao invited Ashanti to perform the National Anthem before his upcoming fight with Timothy Bradley and the 33-year-old accepted.

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"I am so happy that @Ashanti accepted my invitation to sing The National Anthem at my fight with @TimBradleyJr. on April 12. #PacBradley," Pacquiao tweeted on March 4.

The boxing pro and the Grammy Award winning singer met at a New York Knicks game on Feb. 5 and were both enthused by the encounter.

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"I'm such a huge fan of Manny Pacquiao. I have family in the boxing business - Howard Davis, Jr. and Dyah Davis -" Ashanti said. "When I found out we were sitting next to each other courtside at the Knicks game, I said to my Dad, 'we should take a picture'. I told Manny I was a big fan and was so excited when he asked me to sing the National Anthem at his upcoming fight and I can't wait."

Pacquiao also boasted about Ashanti and said, "I told her I was a big fan and asked her if she would sing the U.S. National Anthem at my fight against Timothy Bradley. She quickly checked her schedule and then said she could and she would. The Knicks may have lost that night but I felt like the biggest winner in the world when I walked out of Madison Square Garden."

Pacquiao and Bradley will fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The two first fought in June 2012 and the winner was Bradley.

Tags: ashanti Manny Pacquiao