2026-02-18 11:14:42

Manny Pacquiao will fight Ruslan Provodnikov in April 2026.

After returning to boxing last year, Pac Man, 47, will take on The Siberian Rocky, 42, in a 10-round exhibition fight on April 18 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

In a statement, Pacquiao said: “I carry the Philippines with me every time I fight. The support from my country and from fans around the world continues to inspire me.

“Returning to Las Vegas means so much to me, and I’m ‌excited to work with a team focused on creating a world-class experience for the fans.

“I’m coming ‌back to give them a great fight – and I’m ready.”

Before initially retiring from boxing in 2021, Pacquiao had a professional record of 62 wins, eight losses and three draws, and is unbeaten across three previous exhibitions.

During his stint away from the ring, Pacquiao ran for president in the Philippines in 2022 after serving six years in the country’s senate.

Pac Man made his boxing return in July 2025 to face WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios, 30, with the fight ending in a majority draw.

A December comeback date then fell through when Lamont Roach Jr., 30 and Isaac Cruz, 27, were elevated to the top of the bill, while plans to fight in January 2026 collapsed after UFC 324 was scheduled for the same night.

Pacquiao previously revealed he had been working with Floyd Mayweather Jr., 48, for a “possible rematch” more than a decade after their 2015 showdown.

He said: “There’s a possible rematch with Floyd Mayweather … I’d love to have another fight, a rematch with Floyd Mayweather.”

Even so, Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather has since turned his attention to Mike Tyson, 59, for a potential exhibition bout later this year.

Pacquiao’s long-time advisor Sean Gibbons has also said Pac Man had been targeting a fight with WBA welterweight champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero, 30.

Speaking to Fight Hype, Gibbons said: “There’s discussions for March. Rolly asked the WBA for an exception, so there’s ongoing conversations for that fight. That’s at welterweight.

“Manny would love to better his record that he made at 40 years old, beating Keith Thurman to be the oldest welterweight champion. So, if we could fight Rolly, that would be great.”

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