A Possible Comeback One Week Before 48
Manny Pacquiao could return to the ring against former world champion Joe Cordina at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on December 11, 2026, exactly one week before the Filipino boxing great turns 48. Promoter Eddie Hearn says Cordina's side has agreed terms for a place on the Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua undercard, although the Pacquiao bout is not confirmed.
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The proposed contest would bring together Pacquiao, a former world champion across eight weight divisions, and Cordina, a former International Boxing Federation super featherweight champion fighting in his home city. It would also give Pacquiao his first appearance in a British ring after a career that has included 62 victories in 73 fights.
Hearn, the promoter discussing the proposed matchup from Cordina's side, described how far negotiations had progressed at a media event on Thursday.
We've agreed terms to face Pacquiao, but we don't know if it's happening.
He added:
From our side, we've agreed to do it.
Pacquiao last fought in July 2025, drawing with Mario Barrios in a bid for the World Boxing Council welterweight title. A December appearance would follow roughly 17 months away from competition, another substantial break for a boxer who had already returned from nearly four years out of the ring.
Why Cardiff Is in the Picture
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and president of the Saudi Boxing Federation, confirmed that Fury and Joshua will headline the event at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday, December 11, 2026. Tickets for their heavyweight contest sold out in one hour, giving the proposed Pacquiao fight a place on a bill that has already attracted strong demand.
An undercard consists of the fights held before the main event. Adding Pacquiao against Cordina would pair an internationally recognised champion with a local former titleholder before the two British heavyweights meet. Netflix is set to broadcast the event globally at no additional cost to its members, as confirmed in the event announcement. Undercard bouts will be announced at a later date, and details of other fights have not been released.
For Pacquiao, Cardiff would represent a new location late in his career. His last contest against a British opponent was his victory over Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas in 2009. Facing Cordina would bring that connection back to Britain, this time in front of a Welsh crowd.
Cordina's presence would give local spectators a familiar contender to support. The proposed appearance would be his first fight in Cardiff since he regained his world title against Shavkat Rahimov in 2023.
Cordina's Route Back to a Major Fight
Cordina, 34, has had his own interrupted route to this opportunity. He was scheduled to challenge American Abdullah Mason for the World Boxing Organization lightweight title in Cleveland in July, but was denied a United States visa.
The Welsh boxer remained in training while standing trial over assault allegations and was subsequently cleared of all charges. That verdict opened the way for him to pursue a place on the Cardiff bill and resume his career in his home city.
Cordina previously appeared on the undercard of Fury's first fight against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh in May 2024. On that occasion, he lost his IBF super featherweight title to Anthony Cacace.
A Pacquiao contest would therefore place Cordina on another major heavyweight event, but under very different circumstances. Instead of defending a championship abroad, he would be taking on one of boxing's best known figures at home. At 34, he is also 13 years younger than the 47-year-old Pacquiao.
What the Barrios Draw Left Unfinished
Pacquiao's July 2025 return ended in a majority draw against Barrios. In that scoring outcome, two judges score the contest level while the third selects a winner. With the result recorded as a draw, Barrios retained his welterweight championship.
Pacquiao had returned after retiring to focus on politics in the Philippines. The Barrios fight put him back into a world title contest immediately, but left his attempt to become champion again unfinished.
The December proposal now points toward a meeting with a former champion whose title success came at a lighter weight. Cordina held a super featherweight belt and later pursued a lightweight title opportunity, while Pacquiao's most recent challenge was at welterweight. Those are separate divisions, with different weight limits.
The division and any championship status for a Pacquiao versus Cordina contest have not been announced. For both boxers, those details would shape the sporting stakes alongside the attraction of appearing on a major international broadcast.
Mayweather Delay Opens Other Options
Pacquiao's search for another opponent follows the indefinite postponement in June of a planned September rematch with Floyd Mayweather. The delay came amid Mayweather's ongoing legal issues, disrupting a proposed second meeting following their 2015 fight.
Jas Mathur, chief executive of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, has said the team is exploring an alternative appearance while taking account of its existing contractual commitments. He also wants Pacquiao to have sufficient preparation time for an eventual Mayweather rematch.
Mathur described the priorities guiding the search:
We want it to be the right opportunity with the right partners, and also so he has enough time for his camp against Floyd.
The Cardiff talks fit into that wider effort to find Pacquiao another fight. His team's planning involves more than selecting an opponent: it must also accommodate training, commercial arrangements and the possibility of returning to the Mayweather negotiations.
Amir Khan Talks Point Toward 2027
Amir Khan has also emerged as a possible opponent, although his discussions concern a different timetable. Khan, 39, says a contest with Pacquiao would likely take place in 2027, rather than on the Fury versus Joshua undercard.
The former world champion and Olympic silver medallist has not fought since Kell Brook stopped him in the sixth round in 2022. A meeting with Pacquiao would bring Khan back from his own lengthy absence.
Khan said he had seen proposed financial terms and a location that appealed to him, and described interest from Pacquiao through the team handling the discussions.
There are talks. There's a lot of interest. I've seen numbers which I'm happy with and I've seen a location which I'm happy with.
Khan's comments place him among Pacquiao's possible opponents beyond December. Earlier discussion of Shakur Stevenson facing Pacquiao has faded, with Stevenson instead targeting a contest against Devin Haney later in the year.
The Dates Behind the Comeback Plans
Pacquiao's current position follows a series of returns, delays and negotiations. The key dates show how the proposed Cardiff contest fits into that sequence:
- 2009: Pacquiao defeated Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas, his most recent fight against a British opponent.
- 2015: Pacquiao faced Mayweather in their first meeting.
- July 2025: Pacquiao returned from nearly four years away and drew with Barrios in a welterweight title challenge.
- June 2026: The proposed September rematch with Mayweather was postponed indefinitely.
- December 11, 2026: Pacquiao could face Cordina on the Fury versus Joshua undercard in Cardiff.
- December 18, 2026: Pacquiao turns 48.
- 2027: Khan says a potential fight with Pacquiao would likely take place.
The immediate focus is Cordina, whose side has accepted terms. Khan's suggested timing places his potential comeback further away, while the Mayweather rematch remains part of Pacquiao's team's planning.
A Title Ambition Alongside the Big Names
Pacquiao has continued to pursue prominent opponents and the possibility of another championship run. Devin Haney, Rolando Romero, Ryan Garcia and Liam Paro have been named in connection with a possible welterweight title pursuit.
Those possibilities would serve a different purpose from simply securing another major appearance. A championship challenge would give Pacquiao another opportunity to extend his record as the oldest welterweight world champion, the ambition left unfinished by the Barrios draw.
For now, the most concrete development is Hearn's statement that Cordina's side has agreed terms. A place in Cardiff would put Pacquiao before a global audience just days before his 48th birthday and give Cordina a major return in the city where he regained his world title.
Key Points
- Pacquiao could face Joe Cordina in Cardiff on December 11, 2026, one week before turning 48.
- Eddie Hearn says Cordina's side has agreed terms, but the fight is not confirmed.
- The proposed contest would be on the Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua undercard.
- Turki Alalshikh confirmed Fury versus Joshua for Friday, December 11, 2026, at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, streaming globally on Netflix at no additional cost to members. Undercard bouts will be announced later.
- Pacquiao last fought in July 2025, drawing with Mario Barrios in a welterweight title challenge.
- A planned Mayweather rematch was postponed indefinitely in June.
- Amir Khan says talks about a separate Pacquiao fight are aimed at a possible meeting in 2027.
