Malignaggi Accuses Pacquiao of Ducking a Two-Weight Champion

Paulie Malignaggi has accused Manny Pacquiao of refusing to fight him.

The former two-weight world champion made the claim during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show.

Malignaggi said Pacquiao is looking for any opponent except him.

“This guy’s 100 years old,” Malignaggi said.

“He’s looking to fight anybody but me.”

Pacquiao, 47, has not fought since July 2025.

That night he fought to a draw with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.

Before that, he had been out of the ring since August 2021.

That was when he lost a WBA welterweight title fight to Yordenis Ugás.

Pacquiao is a former eight-division world champion with 73 professional fights.

He has eight losses on his record.

He has been trying to arrange a return fight throughout 2026.

His name was linked to a December undercard bout for Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury in Cardiff.

That undercard fight has now been confirmed as not happening.

Pacquiao had been connected to potential fights with Shakur Stevenson, Paddy Donovan, and Joe Cordina.

None of those fights materialized.

Malignaggi said Pacquiao’s team has not mentioned his name at all.

“I put my name out there,” Malignaggi said.

“I’ve been active. He doesn’t even mention my name.”

Malignaggi believes the reason is personal.

“He knows what I said about him, and he knows I’m right,” Malignaggi said.

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

Malignaggi also criticized the size of Pacquiao’s likely opponent.

“Now he’s fighting a guy 20 pounds smaller than him just so he can fight,” Malignaggi said.

Pacquiao turned 47 in December 2025 and will turn 48 in mid-December 2026.

It is now most likely that if Pacquiao returns, it will be in 2027.

Malignaggi, meanwhile, is scheduled to fight Victor Ortiz in a bare-knuckle boxing match.

That fight is set for Saturday, December 5, 2026.

Ortiz is a former WBC welterweight world champion.

Malignaggi and Ortiz held a face-to-face interview ahead of their BKB 62 bout.

During that interview, Malignaggi also discussed his rivalry with Pacquiao.

He also talked about a potential fight with Tony Ferguson.

He expressed his distaste for MMA fans.

Malignaggi has a long history of calling out Pacquiao.

The two have traded words in the past, though they have never shared a ring.

Malignaggi retired from professional boxing in 2019.

He has since competed in bare-knuckle fighting and exhibition bouts.

Pacquiao’s return to the ring has been complicated by age and inactivity.

He had not fought for nearly four years between the Ugás loss and the Barrios draw.

The draw with Barrios did not produce a clear path forward for Pacquiao.

He has not won a fight since July 2019, when he defeated Keith Thurman.

That win came by split decision in Las Vegas.

Since then, Pacquiao has one loss and one draw in two fights.

His last knockout victory was in 2009 against Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao remains one of the most famous boxers in history.

He is the only eight-division world champion in the sport.

Malignaggi won world titles at junior welterweight and welterweight.

He held the IBF junior welterweight title twice.

He also held the WBA welterweight title.

Malignaggi retired with a record of 36 wins and 8 losses.

He has worked as a boxing analyst since retiring.

His comments on Pacquiao have drawn attention because of their history.

The two have never been close, and Malignaggi has been critical of Pacquiao before.

But this is the first time Malignaggi has publicly accused Pacquiao of ducking him.

Pacquiao’s team has not responded to the accusation.

No statement has been issued by Pacquiao or his representatives.

The accusation comes as Pacquiao tries to arrange one more fight.

Fans have speculated about who Pacquiao will face next.

Some names mentioned include Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis.

Neither of those fights has been confirmed.