Manny Pacquiao to Face 42-Year-Old Former Champion in April Match

Pacquiao's comeback fight will be an exhibition bout against ex-WBO super lightweight champ Ruslan Provodnikov.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Manny Pacquiao's recent return to boxing has lured another former champion out of retirement to face him in the ring. Nine months after fighting WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a draw, 'Pac-Man' is scheduled for his second fight since coming out of retirement, facing former WBO super lightweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov in an exhibition bout in April.

Why it matters

Pacquiao's name has been connected to multiple potential welterweight opponents in the last three months, but the announcement of a match against the retired Provodnikov comes as a surprise. The 47-year-old Pacquiao is looking to continue his comeback after a draw against Barrios, while the 42-year-old Provodnikov will end a decade-long layoff for what will likely be one final boxing payday.

The details

The 10-round welterweight exhibition between Pacquiao and Provodnikov will headline a Banner Promotions fight card on April 18 at the Thomas & Mack Center on the Campus of UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will be co-promoted by Manny Pacquiao Promotions and sponsored by Indistry Media.

  • Pacquiao initially teased a Jan. 24 return, with a plan to headline a fight card under his own banner, Manny Pacquiao Promotions.
  • Pacquiao and Provodnikov's exhibition will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

The players

Manny Pacquiao

A Filipino professional boxer and politician who has held world championships in eight different weight classes, making him one of the greatest and most decorated boxers of all time.

Ruslan Provodnikov

A former WBO super lightweight champion who has been out of the ring since 2016, but is now coming out of retirement to face Pacquiao in an exhibition bout.

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What’s next

The exhibition match between Pacquiao and Provodnikov is scheduled for April 18, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The takeaway

Pacquiao's comeback continues to generate interest, with the announcement of a surprise exhibition match against former champion Ruslan Provodnikov. While not a high-profile opponent, the bout will provide Pacquiao another opportunity to showcase his skills and potentially earn one more big payday before retiring.