Manny Pacquiao Reportedly Set to Face Former World Champion on Fury vs. Joshua Card

Pacquiao's Next Opponent May Finally Be Set

Manny Pacquiao has been boxing's biggest question mark for over a year, and it sounds like we're finally getting an answer. According to Boxing News, a former world champion has agreed terms to share the ring with the eight-division king — and the fight is reportedly being eyed for the stacked Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua card in Cardiff on December 11.

Pacquiao hasn't fought since July 2025, and the boxing world has spent most of 2026 speculating about what comes next for the 46-year-old legend. The obvious headline fight — a Floyd Mayweather rematch over a decade after their 2015 blockbuster — was floated, teased, and even announced for a Netflix broadcast in September. It never happened. But here's the twist: reports suggest Netflix still owes Pacquiao a fight under the terms of that original agreement, which may be exactly why this new matchup is suddenly materializing.

Why Cardiff, Why Now

The Fury vs. Joshua card was already one of the most anticipated events in recent boxing memory — two heavyweight legends finally colliding in front of a massive crowd. Slotting a Pacquiao fight onto that undercard instantly makes it one of the biggest boxing cards in years, combining nostalgia, star power, and must-see TV in one night.

For Pacquiao, this is about staying relevant in a sport he helped define for two decades. For Netflix, it's about delivering on a contractual promise after the Mayweather rematch fell apart. And for whoever this former champion turns out to be, it's the kind of opportunity that doesn't come around twice — a chance to share a ring, and a spotlight, with one of the greatest fighters of all time.

What We Still Don't Know

Details are still trickling out, and official confirmation from Pacquiao's camp, the opponent, or Netflix hasn't landed yet. Terms being "agreed" in boxing often means contracts are close but not signed, so there's still room for this to shift before fight night. Expect more clarity as December 11 approaches.

Bottom Line

If this comes together, the Fury-Joshua card goes from must-watch to can't-miss. Pacquiao fans have waited over a year for a real answer on his future, and this might be it — delivered not through a Mayweather trilogy, but through a new name stepping up for the chance of a lifetime.