Yet another big name has reportedly agreed terms to take on Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao is set to return to action in the near future, with the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua card at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on December 11 seemingly the destination for the boxing legend’s next outing.
The Filipino superstar was last in the ring in July 2025 when he had a majority decision draw in a WBC welterweight title fight with Mario Barrios, and he has spent the majority of 2026 linked to a rematch with Floyd Mayweather following their iconic 2015 meeting.
While that bout hasn’t come to fruition, broadcaster Netflix is said to still owe Pacquiao a fight, and earlier this week Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn claimed that former super-featherweight world champion Joe Cordina has agreed terms for the contest.
Cordina isn’t the only one vying to get the fight though, after Irish welterweight Paddy Donovan told Total Boxing With Tris Dixon that he is also in talks to secure the match-up.
“We see Manny Pacquiao is looking for an active opponent. My manager, Keith O’Sullivan, has reached out to his team. They’ve been in talks about making the fight happen.
“Look, it’s a long shot, it’d be great. Manny Pacquiao is a phenomenal fighter, is a legend of the sport, and it’d be a dream come true to fight Manny. And I think, yeah, what a great fight it would be.”
Donovan last fought in September, securing a fourth round stoppage win over Tyrone McKenna, with that victory coming four months after he had defeated Karen Chukhadzhian on points to become mandatory for the IBF welterweight title.
‘The Real Deal’ previously challenged for the IBF belt when it was vacant in September 2025, suffering a split decision loss in his rematch with Lewis Crocker, having been on the wrong end of a controversial disqualification loss to Crocker earlier that year.
Pacquiao is now 47 while Donovan is two decades younger at 27 and would likely be seen as a big favourite for the bout, so it’s likely that ‘PacMan’ will look elsewhere if he is indeed set to compete on December’s Fury vs. Joshua bill.
