Former world champ says Pacquiao ducks him but fights everyone else

Former two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi has accused Manny Pacquiao of ducking him.

Malignaggi says the Filipino legend is willing to fight almost any other opponent.

He told The Ariel Helwani Show that Pacquiao has been avoiding him at all costs.

“I will tell you this, this guy Pacquiao comes back and he is looking to fight anybody but me right now,” Malignaggi said.

“This guy is 100 years old and he is looking to fight anybody but me.”

Malignaggi is a former IBF junior welterweight and WBA welterweight champion.

He has been calling for a fight with Pacquiao as the 47-year-old searches for his next opponent in 2026.

Pacquiao has not fought since July 2025, when he drew with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.

That fight ended in a split decision draw in Tokyo, Japan.

Before that, Pacquiao had been out of the ring since August 2021, when he lost a WBA welterweight contest to Yordenis Ugás.

Pacquiao is a veteran of 73 professional fights with eight losses on his record.

He is a former eight-weight world champion who has struggled to leave the sport behind.

Malignaggi pointed out that Pacquiao is now looking at a much smaller opponent.

“Now, he is fighting a guy 20lbs smaller than him just so that he can fight,” Malignaggi said.

He claimed Pacquiao's camp does not want him involved in the promotion.

“I have put my name out there, I have been active, he doesn’t even mention my name because he knows what I said about him and he knows that I am right,” Malignaggi said.

“They don’t want that spewed out in that promotion, so they don’t bring it up.”

Pacquiao had been touted for the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight in Cardiff next month.

Names like Amir Khan and Danny Garcia were suggested as potential opponents.

Then active fighters like two-time IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina became the front runner.

But in a disappointing turn of events, Pacquiao will no longer appear on the Fury-Joshua undercard.

That has been confirmed as not happening.

Pacquiao is now most likely to return in 2027, despite turning 48 in mid-December.

Meanwhile, Malignaggi is set to take part in a bare-knuckle clash with former WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz on Saturday, December 5.

Malignaggi has a professional boxing record of 36 wins and 8 losses, with 7 knockouts.

He won world titles in two weight classes during his career.

He has also worked as a boxing analyst and commentator since retiring.

Malignaggi and Pacquiao have a history of verbal sparring.

Malignaggi has been critical of Pacquiao's recent fights and his refusal to face certain opponents.

Pacquiao's team has not publicly responded to Malignaggi's latest comments.

Another potential Pacquiao opponent is Conor Benn.

Benn revealed to Sky Sports that he had been offered a December bout with Pacquiao.

But after the rigours of making welterweight and suffering a stoppage loss to Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas in September, he was not able to box Pacquiao next month.

Benn hopes to restart talks for a fight with Pacquiao in the first quarter of 2027.

“He’s an all-time legend,” Benn told Sky Sports.

“He’s an eight-division world champion, he’s an all-time, he’ll go down in the history books.”

Benn added: “Another stadium show sounds nice.”

“I know the Pacquiao fight was offered to me for December,” Benn said.

“And I wasn’t ready to get the fight done in December.

“But if he wants it Q1 next year, we can do Pacquiao.

“The fight got presented to me for December and it was just too soon, making weight, got a newborn son, so for me it was really about spending time with my family.”

But he added: “If Q1, he wants to get it on again, I’m interested.

“Always in the gym, always working, if he wants it Q1 next year, we can do it, no problem.”

Garcia, the WBC welterweight champion, stopped Benn inside two rounds in the Briton's first world title challenge.

“It’s a hard pill to swallow,” Benn acknowledged.

“To give 100 per cent in everything I do, I always want to be victorious.

“No one likes losing.

“You always want to come first place.