Pacquiao Called Out for Ducking a Former World Champion

Paulie Malignaggi has publicly accused Manny Pacquiao of avoiding a fight with him.

The former two-division world champion made the claim on The Ariel Helwani Show.

Malignaggi said Pacquiao is willing to fight almost 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 told Helwani.

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

Pacquiao, 47, 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, when he lost a WBA welterweight contest to Yordenis Ugás.

Pacquiao is a former eight-weight world champion with 73 professional fights and eight losses on his record.

He has been searching for a next opponent throughout 2026.

For weeks, the boxing world expected Pacquiao to appear on the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight in Cardiff next month.

Retired rivals such as Amir Khan and Danny Garcia were among the names suggested as potential opponents.

Then active fighters began to be rumored instead.

Two-time IBF super-featherweight world champion Joe Cordina was considered the frontrunner.

But that fight has now been confirmed as not happening.

Malignaggi, 44, is a former world champion at super-lightweight and welterweight.

He has been active in the ring and is scheduled to fight next on Saturday, December 5.

That bout is a bare-knuckle clash with former WBC welterweight world champion Victor Ortiz under the BKB 62 banner.

Malignaggi said he has put his name forward to fight Pacquiao.

He accused Pacquiao of choosing a much smaller opponent just to avoid him.

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

"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 suggested there is a reason Pacquiao's camp does not want the fight discussed.

"They don't want that spewed out in that promotion, so they don't bring it up," he said.

Pacquiao has not responded publicly to Malignaggi's comments.

The Filipino fighter turns 48 in mid-December.

It is now most likely that if Pacquiao does return to the ring, it will be in 2027.

Malignaggi's accusation comes at a time when Pacquiao has been linked with several potential opponents.

Earlier in 2026, his name was mentioned alongside Shakur Stevenson and Paddy Donovan.

Neither of those fights materialized.

Joe Cordina, the Welsh former IBF super-featherweight champion, has said a fight with Pacquiao would be "an honour."

But that bout has also fallen through.

Malignaggi has a history of outspoken criticism of Pacquiao.

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

Malignaggi believes Pacquiao knows what he has said about him and does not want those statements repeated in a promotion.

"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 has fought at the highest level of the sport.

He held the IBF super-lightweight title from 2007 to 2008 and won the WBA welterweight title in 2012.

His career includes fights against Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan, Danny Garcia, and Adrien Broner.

He retired from professional boxing in 2017 but has continued to compete in bare-knuckle events.

Pacquiao's legacy is among the greatest in boxing history.

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

His wins include victories over Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Keith Thurman.

But at 47, questions about his remaining ability have grown louder.

The draw with Barrios in July 2025 showed a fighter who could still compete at the championship level but no longer dominated.

Malignaggi's callout adds another layer to Pacquiao's search for a next opponent.

Whether Pacquiao will respond to the accusation remains unclear.

For now, Malignaggi has a fight of his own to prepare for.