Manny Pacquiao accused of ducking a two-weight world champion

Manny Pacquiao is on the comeback trail once more but has been accused of dodging a former two-weight world champion.

Pacquiao is 47 years of age.

He has not fought since July 2025, when he secured a draw with WBC ruler Mario Barrios.

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

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

He is a former eight-weight world champion who is finding it hard to leave the sport behind.

He had been linked with a fight with Shakur Stevenson and Paddy Donovan and then Joe Cordina on the undercard of Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury in December, but that has now been confirmed as not happening.

Speaking to Ariel Helwani, Paulie Malignaggi said he would be up for the fight with 'Pacman' but that the Filipino has so far swerved the possibility.

“Pacquiao comes back and he’s looking to fight anybody but me right now,” Malignaggi told The Ariel Helwani Show.

“This guy’s 100 years old. He’s looking to fight anybody but me. Now he’s fighting a guy 20 pounds smaller than him just so he can fight.”

“I put my name out there. I’ve been active. He doesn’t even mention my name. He knows what I said about him, and he knows I’m right. They don’t want that spewed out in that promotion, so they don’t bring it up.”

It is now most likely that Pacquiao, if he does return, will do so in 2027 despite turning 48 in mid-December.

Pacquiao had been touted for the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard in Cardiff next month, with retired rivals such as Amir Khan and Danny Garcia being amongst the suggested names as his potential opponent.

As fight night drew closer, active fighters instead began to be rumoured as Pacquiao’s potential dance partner, with two-time IBF super-featherweight world champion Joe Cordina being deemed as the front runner.

One man willing to face Pacquiao next is former two-division world champion Paulie Malignaggi, however he told The Ariel Helwani Show, that the 47 year-old 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. Now, he is fighting a guy 20lbs smaller than him just so that he can fight.”

“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.”

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

In a disappointing turn of events, it seems as though Pacquiao will no longer appear on the Fury-Joshua undercard.

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

Paulie Malignaggi and Victor Ortiz join for a face-to-face ahead of their BKB 62 fight, talking about the history between the two, how the bout came together, and how they expect the fight to go.

Plus, Malignaggi touches on his rivalry with Manny Pacquiao, a potential fight against Tony Ferguson, his distaste for MMA fans, and more.

Pacquiao has been searching for his next opponent throughout 2026.

One multi-weight world champion believes that the Filipino icon has ducked him, believing that 'Pac Man' will fight 'anyone but him'.

Pacquiao had been linked to the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard in Cardiff next month.