Welsh boxing star Joe Cordina has revealed that he has formally accepted an offer to face legendary eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao in what would be a monumental contest on home soil. The proposed matchup is slated to take place as part of the high-profile undercard for the long-awaited, all-British heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff this December.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, the 34-year-old former two-time super-featherweight world champion confirmed that while he has verbally agreed to all terms presented to him, formal contracts have not yet been signed. Despite the absence of a finalized contract on paper, Cordina made it clear that he did not hesitate for a moment when the opportunity was presented to him, fully appreciating the magnitude of sharing a ring with one of the most celebrated figures in the history of combat sports.
The offer came directly with a sense of urgency, as promoters made it clear to the Welshman that the opportunity would quickly be passed to another opponent if he did not commit immediately. Cordina recounted the exact nature of the proposal, explaining that organizers approached him directly to gauge his interest in facing the iconic Filipino fighter.
According to Cordina, the organizers laid out the specifics of the arrangement and made it clear that if he was unwilling to accept the terms, they would move forward with alternative candidates. Cordina expressed that his response was instant and unequivocal, stating that he agreed to the contest without hesitation. Having already captured world titles at the super-featherweight division on two separate occasions, Cordina emphasized that while his ambition to win further world championships remains strong, the opportunity to fight a legend of Pacquiao’s stature transcends standard belt accomplishments.
For Cordina, the chance to share a ring with Pacquiao represents a rare and extraordinary milestone. He reflected on the unique attraction of the matchup, noting that while world titles are always a primary objective for any elite fighter, the name of Manny Pacquiao carries a level of global prestige that eclipses virtually every other opportunity available in modern boxing.
The prospect of hosting the event at the Principality Stadium adds immense personal significance for Cordina, who was born in Cardiff. Stepping into the ring against a global sporting icon in his home city, beneath the roof of Wales’ national stadium, represents a crowning moment in his professional career. Cordina noted that Pacquiao is an eight-division world champion and an undisputed legend of the sport, but acknowledged the reality of age and career longevity, observing that a global superstar of Pacquiao’s standing will inevitably step away from competition permanently in the near future. For Cordina, being able to trade punches with an icon he grew up admiring long before he ever put on a pair of boxing gloves himself would be an extraordinary honor.
Despite his enthusiasm for the fight, Cordina was careful to clarify the current state of negotiations, emphasizing that the bout is far from finalized. He stressed that he has not yet received a formal contract to sign and has not been given official confirmation that the event is definitively moving forward.
Cordina reiterated that while he has said yes to everything requested of him and accepted all terms, he remains in a state of anticipation, waiting for the promoters and organizers to deliver a final decision. Nevertheless, his physical preparation is already well underway. The Welsh fighter revealed that he has been in dedicated training for the past four to five weeks, structuring his camp specifically around the tactical demands of facing Pacquiao. He noted that he is conditioning his body and sharpening his skills so that if the phone rings with final confirmation, he will be in peak condition and completely prepared to step into the ring.
Sky Sports has formally approached Pacquiao’s team for comment regarding the proposed matchup, as boxing fans around the world await confirmation on whether the Filipino icon will return to British soil for this landmark event.
The prospect of facing Pacquiao comes at an intriguing juncture in the veteran’s storied career. Now 47 years old, Pacquiao is more than a decade removed from his absolute athletic prime, yet he continues to demonstrate flashes of the elite skill that made him a global sensation. Cordina pointed directly to Pacquiao’s most recent competitive outing as proof that the veteran remains a dangerous opponent.
In July of 2025, Pacquiao returned to the ring to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight world title. That contest ended in a hard-fought draw, though Cordina admitted that after watching the action closely, he personally felt Pacquiao had done enough to earn the victory on the judges’ scorecards.
Cordina addressed the skepticism raised by fans and critics who question why a fighter in his prime would pursue a matchup against an aging legend. He noted that he has encountered numerous comments from observers pointing out Pacquiao’s age and questioning the competitive validity of the fight. However, Cordina strongly dismissed those criticisms, highlighting fundamental truths about veteran power punchers and high-level ring craft.
In Cordina’s estimation, physical power is the very last attribute a fighter loses as they age. Analyzing Pacquiao’s training footage and recent performances, Cordina pointed out that the former eight-division champion still exhibits impressive hand speed, sharp footwork, and devastating combination punching on the heavy bags. While Cordina acknowledged that a fighter’s timing can naturally suffer after extended periods away from active competition—noting that Pacquiao had experienced a layoff of a year and a half prior to his recent championship bout—he stressed that ring intelligence and decades of top-tier experience cannot be discounted. Having shared the ring with the greatest fighters of his generation across multiple weight classes, Pacquiao possesses an unparalleled wealth of knowledge that makes him a formidable threat regardless of age.
The potential inclusion of Cordina versus Pacquiao adds even greater allure to an event that is already billed as one of the largest spectacles in British boxing history. The card is anchored by the long-anticipated heavyweight collision between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Friday, December 11. The event is scheduled as a late-night spectacle, with ringwalks for the heavyweight main event expected to take place around 1:00 AM in the early hours of Saturday morning to accommodate massive global television audiences.
As someone who could potentially perform on the same stage on the very same night, Cordina shared his thoughts on the main event between Joshua and Fury. He strongly pushed back against the narrative labeling Joshua as a significant underdog in the contest, warning against ever discounting a heavyweight of Joshua’s caliber and explosive knockout power.
Cordina emphasized the inherent unpredictability of elite heavyweight boxing, stating that no one can ever write off a world-class heavyweight, particularly a puncher of Joshua’s caliber. He noted that it takes only a single landed strike from Joshua to leave an opponent in severe trouble.
Looking ahead to how the heavyweight battle might unfold, Cordina expressed a personal hope that both Joshua and Fury will deliver an action-packed contest that satisfies years of fan anticipation. He voiced his desire to see both heavyweights meet directly in the center of the ring and engage in an immediate, explosive trade of power punches, likening his ideal vision of the fight to a classic shootout in a Western film.
Cordina acknowledged the widespread sentiment among boxing enthusiasts that this showdown between Joshua and Fury is taking place roughly five years later than its absolute ideal competitive window. Because the matchup has been discussed, debated, and delayed for so many years, Cordina believes both men carry a responsibility to produce an exhilarating spectacle rather than a overly tactical affair. In his view, anything less than an aggressive, high-intensity battle would represent a major disappointment for the millions of fans watching worldwide, stressing that both fighters must go out there and engage fully from the opening bell.
As the sporting world eagerly awaits formal announcements regarding the full fight card, Cordina remains focused on his daily regimen in Cardiff, fully prepared to capitalize on the biggest opportunity of his professional career should the contract materialize.
