Philippines, 13 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


When is Manny Pacquiao fighting?


PhilBoxing.com




IF he?s indeed fighting on April 14, as offered by Bob Arum, shouldn?t Manny Pacquiao be back training by now, or hitting the road last week yet?

Top Rank announced it has scheduled a Pacquiao bout for April, side-by-side with the WBO welterweight championship between title defender Jeff Horn of Australia and the unbeaten Terence Crawford from Nebraska.

Pacquiao responded by saying he would be very delighted to clash with Argentine punching machine Lucas Matthysse, instead of the banged-up Mike Alvarado. Matthysse is reigning WBA welterweight champion.

**
Bob Arum cried no way: Pacquiao-Matthysse could happen, but not anytime soon.

So what is Pacquiao doing?

The other day, he was reported doing the political rounds, bringing help and hope to aggrieved countrymen. He also appeared deeply involved nursing and expanding the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), his newest sports baby.

**

If Pacquiao would agree to fight in April, time would be of the essence. March is around the corner, and before we know it, Pacquiao would be left with only a month to work and be fit for a stellar performance.

Maybe he could afford to take it easy. In fact, Alvarado, a former world titlist who?s openly considered busted ring material, is being trumpeted as top prospect for Pacquiao?s first knockout victim since 2009.

Pacquiao could just cram and instantly declare readiness to do battle and go for a KO?

**

Fact is Bob Arum is himself uncertain about Pacquiao?s exact plan.

The best the Top Rank CEO could do was announce Pacquiao could fight a truly big fight by November, either against Vasyl Lomachenko or Crawford.

Of course, there are many experts and fans who wonder it Pacquiao has enough left in him to wage great battle.

The respected boxing critic and scholar Paul Magno has surmised Pacqiao is now the boxing equivalent of the fat Elvis Presley in Las Vegas.

?For all intents and purposes, Manny Pacquiao is now in the fat Elvis Presley period in Las Vegas. The question of whether Pacquiao is still among the elite welterweight in the world is up for debate. Instead, Team Pacquiao, guided by Bob Arum, has focused on Manny as a novelty icon?a draw to longtime loyalists and, if Arum gets his way, a piggyback ride for in-house up-and-coming-fighters,? Magno explains.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 9 FEBRUARY 2026: Figueroa Stops Ball in 12; Medina Outpoints Curiel; Asanau, Unal Win in Montreal
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Paradero gets a rematch against Francisco
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Carcedo wins WBA Asia South super welterweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Shark attack in Florida Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Making waves on Feb. 19
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • 19-1 Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga returns on February 21 to Atlantic City
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Women's Team and Squad Rosters Announced
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Filipino child prodigy Asher Judd Sy tops the 3rd King’s College Bangkok Chess Championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Chaos in Liverpool: Figueroa Silences Echo Arena with 12th-Round Fireworks
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Gabriel Santisima Stuns Unbeaten World Ranked and WBO Asia Pacific Champion Subaru Murata to Capture WBO Asia Pacific Title at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
    , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Lucky "Batang Quiapo" Salvador defeats Rhaky "Roj" Constantino
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa: Scrappy Styles Matchup in Liverpool
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 07 Feb 2026
  • Undefeated Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Returns to the Ring February 6 in Guadalajara
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Esquillo, Arpilleda to compete at Lunar Horse Battle Royal 10-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.