Joe Cordina Open to Fight Manny Pacquiao This Year

Cordina's Challenge to Pacquiao

Two-time IBF super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina has expressed his desire to fight Manny Pacquiao before the end of 2026. Cordina, who hails from Cardiff, is keen on the opportunity to step into the ring with the legendary eight-division champion.

Pacquiao's Recent Activity

Manny Pacquiao returned to the boxing ring in July, where he fought Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title, resulting in a draw. Following this, there were discussions about a potential rematch with Floyd Mayweather, but those plans were postponed due to legal issues involving Mayweather. Instead, Netflix has scheduled to broadcast a fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua on December 11. It is anticipated that Pacquiao will also be part of this event to fulfill a prior contract with the streaming service.

Cordina's Mindset

In a recent interview, Cordina acknowledged Pacquiao's status as one of his favorite fighters but emphasized that he would not be intimidated if they were to meet in the ring. He stated his intention to perform at his best, aiming for a decisive victory. Cordina is also being considered for a shot at Abdullah Mason's WBO lightweight title on the same undercard as the Fury-Joshua fight, following a previous attempt that was canceled earlier this summer.