Provodnikov exhibition not set in stone for Pacquiao; Mayweather rematch top priority
MANILA, Philippines — Despite being already widely reported, Manny Pacquiao’s supposed exhibition fight with former world champion Ruslan Provodnikov has not been finalized.
In fact, there’s a chance that the showcase bout — reportedly penciled for April 18 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas — does not happen at all.
“Wala yun (that’s nothing),” a member of Pacquiao’s inner circle told Philstar.com.
“Huwag niyo isulat yun (don’t report on that),” he added, keen on brushing off the exhibition bout with Provodnikov, a former sparring partner of the Filipino icon who last saw action in 2016.
This despite the fact that Pacquiao’s official website mannypac.com has an active link for ticket sales to the fight.
The priority for the Filipino icon, the insider insisted, is the just-announced rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Streaming powerhouse Netflix on Tuesday announced that Mayweather and Pacquiao will lock horns anew — more than a decade since their megabuck bout — at the Sphere in Las Vegas on September 18.
Pacquiao — who came out of retirement last year and battled now former WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a draw in July 2025 — himself confirmed yesterday that he’ll first get his feet wet against Provodnikov.
But Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, claimed the opposite when he told ESPN’s Andreas Hale that the Provodnikov exhibition is “not official.”
"It's not official or else you would've seen a lot more announced by Manny directly on that. I would've also participated in that, and it is just not official,” said Mathur.
It’s been reported Mayweather himself will also figure in an exhibition fight — against heavyweight great Mike Tyson — before the big-money rematch with Pacquiao.
Mathur, for his part, said Pacquiao will definitely take one, too.
It’s just not certain if it’s against Provodnikov.
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