While unlikely to feature on the undercard of a potential blockbuster showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao could nonetheless return to the ring against a familiar face and former two-division world champion.
Initially, combat sports circles were abuzz with reports that the living legend may end up colliding with four-division world champion Shakur Stevenson at Cardiff’s iconic Principality Stadium on December 11. That high-profile matchup, however, is no longer considered a possibility by promoters and handlers, as Stevenson has instead shifted his focus toward securing a high-stakes showdown with unified lightweight standout Devin Haney for later this year. With the Cardiff bout off the table, the search for Pacquiao’s next career chapter has taken a fascinating and nostalgic turn.
As for Pacquiao, the indomitable fighter remains an active figure in the sport despite his advancing years. Now 47, the former senator has remained out of the competitive limelight since July 2025, when he officially ended a near four-year professional layoff. In that highly anticipated return, he bravely battled to a hard-fought majority draw against the then-WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, proving that his legendary stamina and hand speed still retained sparks of his former brilliance.
Following that impressive outing against Barrios, the former eight-division world champion was initially set to step back into the squared circle to face longtime rival Floyd Mayweather this past September. However, that lucrative and heavily anticipated exhibition rematch was ultimately scuppered due to lingering legal issues and promotional complications, leaving fans wondering when—or if—they would see the iconic southpaw lace up his gloves once again.
Now, though, Pacquiao is being linked to a potential clash with British star Amir Khan, a fighter who was remarkably eager to trade blows with the Hall of Famer when they were both closer to their athletic primes and dominating the welterweight and light-welterweight divisions.
Despite having not stepped foot inside a professional ring since his brutal sixth-round stoppage defeat to domestic rival Kell Brook back in February 2022, the 39-year-old Khan has revealed to Metro that he is, indeed, in active talks to face the legendary "Pac Man." The potential matchup represents a collision between two of the most explosive, fast-handed offensive fighters of their generation, a contest that many boxing purists thought had sailed past its expiration date.
Providing insight into the ongoing discussions, Khan expressed optimism about the financial and logistical parameters currently being negotiated behind the scenes, highlighting mutual interest from both camps.
"There are talks. There’s a lot of interest. I’ve seen numbers which I’m happy with and I’ve seen a location which I’m happy with," Khan revealed to Metro regarding the state of the negotiations. "Manny has come back to the same team that I’m dealing with and said he would want something as well. Manny is happy."
Despite swirling speculation across social media platforms and sports tabloids, Khan quickly moved to definitively deny rumors that their prospective encounter would take place on the undercard of a potential Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua mega-event. The Olympic silver medallist clarified that logistics and scheduling realities mean their prospective encounter would be far more likely to materialize in 2027 if the final contracts are successfully signed and sealed.
