Manny Pacquiao will make his return to the boxing ring on Sat., April 18, 2026 to face Ruslan Provodnikov in a 10-round exhibition Welterweight bout inside Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao (47) is a world champion in seven divisions and was last seen fighting to a majority draw against current WBC Welterweight champion, Mario Barrios, last summer (highlights). Prior to that, “Pacman” hadn’t seen action inside a boxing ring in over four years, which was a loss to Yordenis Ugas.
The last time Pacquiao had his hand raised in victory was back in July 2019 after defeating Keith Thurman via split decision to win the the WBA Super Welterweight title.
This will be “Pacman’s” fifth straight bout in ”Sin City.“
“I carry the Philippines with me every time I fight,” said Pacquiao. “The support from my country and from fans around the world continues to inspire me. Returning to Las Vegas means so much to me, and I’m excited to work with a team focused on creating a world-class experience for the fans. I’m coming back to give them a great fight — and I’m ready.”
As for Provodnikov, 42, he has not seen the inside of a boxing ring in a competitive bout in nearly a decade, with his last fight coming back in June 2016, losing a unanimous decision against John Molina Jr. The former WBO Light Welterweight champion may not carry as much popularity with him into the ring when compared to Pacquiao, as his two biggest fights came against Timothy Bradley and Lucas Matthysse, both losses.
Pacquiao and Provodnikov are just the latest fighters whose best days are long behind them looking to cash in on the exhibition circuit, which has been all the rage of over the last few years. For instance, Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson are also looking to turn back the hands of time when they collide on April 25 in Africa.
A fight between Pacquiao and Provodnikov seemed to be a fight to make years ago while both were in the prime of their careers, but I guess its simply another case of better late than never, which seems to be the trend as of late.
