Manny Pacquiao’s long-running search for his next high-profile professional boxing ring appearance could finally be drawing to a close, with former two-time world champion Joe Cordina emerging as the frontrunner to lock horns with the legendary Filipino icon.
The eight-weight world champion, whose storied and illustrious career spans multiple generations of boxing greatness, was last seen in action back in July 2025. In that outing, the then-46-year-old veteran stepped back into the elite title picture to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight championship. In a hard-fought and competitive encounter that showcased glimpses of his legendary hand speed and footwork, Pacquiao was ultimately held to a majority draw, proving that he could still mix it at a high level despite his advancing age and lengthy layoffs from the sport.
Throughout the course of 2026, the boxing rumor mill has continuously linked Pacquiao to various high-profile matchups, most notably a lucrative and much-discussed professional rematch with his old rival Floyd Mayweather. That potential blockbuster would have arrived over a decade on from their mega-fight in May 2015, a historic encounter that Mayweather won via unanimous decision in front of a global audience. Despite widespread fanfare and an official announcement indicating that their second meeting would be broadcast live to millions around the world on Netflix in September, the highly anticipated bout ultimately failed to materialize. However, despite the collapse of the Mayweather rematch, industry insiders have widely reported that the prominent streaming giant still owes Pacquiao a professional bout as part of the broader agreement he originally signed with the platform.
That contractual obligation could finally be fulfilled on a massive upcoming domestic blockbuster card. Promoters and industry stakeholders have targeted the blockbuster heavyweight event featuring a clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, which is slated to take place in Cardiff on December 11. In the months leading up to these latest developments, Pacquiao’s name had been persistently linked to various potential opponents for a spot on the lucrative Cardiff bill, with rumors swirling regarding prospective showdowns against elite operators such as Shakur Stevenson and former world champion Amir Khan.
Yet, it is an entirely different contender who has now taken a significant step toward sharing the ring with the Filipino icon. Promoter Eddie Hearn recently revealed to The Ring that Welsh fighter Joe Cordina has officially agreed to his side of the terms required to make a fight against Manny Pacquiao happen in Cardiff. While the formal agreement represents a major breakthrough, questions still linger regarding whether the fight will ultimately cross the finish line and be officially finalized, as negotiations and promotional hurdles often complicate multi-faceted fight cards of this magnitude.
Cordina brings a wealth of elite-level experience and skill to the table. The talented Welshman has held the IBF super-featherweight title on two separate occasions during his professional career, establishing himself as one of the slickest technicians in the lighter weight classes. His championship reign faced a severe setback back in May 2024, however, when he suffered the first defeat of his professional career via an eighth-round stoppage loss to Anthony Cacace.
Demonstrating resilience and a desire to climb back to the top of the sport, Cordina has successfully rebounded by winning two consecutive fights since that defeat. The most recent of those victories came against Gabriel Flores in December, re-establishing his momentum inside the squared circle. Because of his local ties to the Welsh capital, Cordina was naturally put forward by Hearn as a compelling and viable domestic option to face Pacquiao on the star-studded Fury versus Joshua undercard, ensuring massive local interest and a passionate crowd in Cardiff.
Despite Cordina agreeing to terms on his side, it still remains to be seen whether Manny Pacquiao and his management team will formally sign off on the matchup. Adding another layer of intrigue to Cordina’s immediate future, the Welshman has also been linked to a potential bout against WBO lightweight champion Abdullah Mason, after the two fighters were originally scheduled to square off earlier this year before plans fell through. As December approaches, boxing fans await a final decision on whether the legendary Filipino multi-division champion will travel to the United Kingdom to face Cordina on the massive Cardiff stage.
