Pacquiao accused of ducking two-weight world champion

Paulie Malignaggi, a former two-division world champion, has accused Manny Pacquiao of deliberately avoiding a fight with him.

Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Malignaggi said Pacquiao is looking for any opponent except him.

“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, now 44, has been out of traditional boxing but remains active in bare-knuckle fighting.

He is scheduled to face former WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz in a bare-knuckle bout on December 5, 2026.

Pacquiao, 47, has not fought since July 2025, when he drew with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.

Before that, he had been out of the ring since August 2021, when he lost to Yordenis Ugás.

Pacquiao is a former eight-division world champion with a record of 62 wins, 8 losses, and 2 draws.

He had been linked to a comeback fight on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua in Cardiff next month.

Names like Shakur Stevenson, Paddy Donovan, and Joe Cordina were rumored as potential opponents.

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

Malignaggi believes Pacquiao is specifically avoiding him because of something he previously said about the Filipino star.

“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 did not specify what he said, but the implication is that Pacquiao’s camp wants to avoid any controversy.

Pacquiao has not responded publicly to Malignaggi’s accusation.

Meanwhile, another potential Pacquiao opponent has emerged.

Conor Benn revealed to Sky Sports that he was offered a December fight with Pacquiao.

Benn said he could not take the December date because of recent weight cuts and a newborn son.

But he expressed interest in fighting Pacquiao in the first quarter of 2027.

“If Q1, he wants to get it on again, I’m interested,” Benn said.

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

Benn, 28, is coming off a stoppage loss to Ryan Garcia in September 2026.

That loss was his first world title challenge, and he has since been recovering.

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

If he does return, it is now most likely to happen in 2027.

Malignaggi’s callout adds another layer to the uncertainty around Pacquiao’s next move.