Pacquiao Accused Of Ducking A Two-Weight World Champion

Paulie Malignaggi says Manny Pacquiao is 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 told The Ariel Helwani Show.

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

The former two-division world champion did not hold back.

"Now, he is fighting a guy 20lbs smaller than him just so that he can fight."

Pacquiao is 47 years old.

He has not fought since July 2025.

That night he secured 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 contest to Yordenis Ugás.

Pacquiao is a veteran of 73 professional fights.

He has eight losses on his record.

He is a former eight-weight world champion.

He has found it hard to leave the sport behind.

Throughout 2026, Pacquiao has been searching for his next opponent.

He had been linked to a fight with Shakur Stevenson.

He had also been linked to Paddy Donovan.

Then Joe Cordina became the front runner.

Cordina is a two-time IBF super-featherweight world champion.

Pacquiao was touted for the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard in Cardiff next month.

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

As fight night drew closer, active fighters began to be rumored instead.

But that undercard appearance has now been confirmed as not happening.

Eddie Hearn claims Pacquiao is off the Fury vs Joshua undercard.

Malignaggi says he has put his name out there.

"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."

Malignaggi is a former two-weight world champion.

He won the IBF junior welterweight title twice.

He also held the WBA welterweight title.

He has been a commentator and analyst since retiring.

He has remained active in combat sports.

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

That fight is scheduled under the BKB 62 banner.

Malignaggi and Ortiz faced off recently to promote the bout.

They talked about the history between the two.

They discussed how the fight came together.

Malignaggi also touched on his rivalry with Pacquiao during that face-off.

He also mentioned a potential fight against Tony Ferguson.

He expressed his distaste for MMA fans.

But the main headline remains his accusation against Pacquiao.

It is now most likely that Pacquiao, if he does return, will do so in 2027.

He turns 48 in mid-December.

Pacquiao has not responded publicly to Malignaggi's comments.

No statement has been issued by his camp.

No confirmation of his next opponent has been made.

The accusation stands as a public challenge.

Malignaggi wants the fight.

He says Pacquiao does not.

He says the reason is what Pacquiao knows Malignaggi will say during promotion.

He says the truth would come out.

That truth, according to Malignaggi, is why Pacquiao is avoiding him.