Manny Pacquiao has been linked to a host of names throughout 2026, and now a two-time world champion has shared his willingness to face the Filipino icon before the end of the year.
Pacquiao returned to boxing last July, drawing when challenging for Mario Barrios’ WBC welterweight title. Since then, ‘Pac Man’ has been linked to a lucrative rematch with Floyd Mayweather, but the Netflix-planned event was postponed due to legal issues surrounding ‘TBE’.
Instead, Netflix will air Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua’s long-awaited clash on Friday, December 11 in Cardiff, and it is believed that Pacquiao will feature on that bill – in order to fulfil his previous contract with the streaming service.
Speaking to iFL TV, two-time IBF super-featherweight world champion Joe Cordina confirmed his interest in a match-up with boxing’s only eight-division conqueror.
“It is crazy to think that, potentially, I could be in the ring with him. Don’t get me wrong and don’t get this twisted – if that fight was to happen – yes, he was one of my favourite fighters and it would be an honour to share the ring with him, but I am going to try and leave him like [Juan Manuel] Marquez left him.
“I’m not going to be in awe of him in the ring and like, ‘Oh my God, it is Manny Pacquiao’ – no, I am going to look to do a job.
“He is not the fighter that he once was, but he is still experienced and the last thing that they lose is power, so it would still be a f***ing hard fight. I am looking forward to how the next few weeks unfold.”
Cordina – a Cardiff local – is also being mentioned for a potential shot at Abdullah Mason’s WBO lightweight world title on the blockbuster Fury-Joshua undercard, following on from the Welshman’s cancelled bid for Mason’s belt back in the summer.
