Joe Cordina Agrees to Terms to Fight Manny Pacquiao on Fury-Joshua Undercard

The ball is officially in Manny Pacquiao's court. Former two-time super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina has signed off on his side of a deal to face the 47-year-old boxing legend, accepting the purse and terms for a 147-pound welterweight clash.[1][2]

If finalized, the bout will serve as the co-main event for the blockbuster heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. That card is scheduled for December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, and will stream globally on Netflix.[1][4]

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed the Welshman's commitment during a media event on Thursday, though he cautioned that the matchup remains in limbo. "We've agreed terms to face Pacquiao, but we don't know if it's happening," Hearn said. "From our side, we've agreed to do it."[1][4]

The proposed 147-pound limit represents a massive leap for the 34-year-old Cordina. He built his 19-1 professional record primarily at 130 pounds before recently campaigning at lightweight, meaning he would be jumping two weight classes to meet the eight-division world champion.[2][4]

Pacquiao, who holds a staggering 62-8-3 record with 39 knockouts, has not competed since fighting to a 12-round majority draw against Mario Barrios in July 2025. A victory over Cordina would add another international chapter to his legacy, marking his first professional appearance on British soil.[2][4]

Pacquiao has long expressed a desire to fight in the United Kingdom before officially retiring. His last bout against a British opponent remains his devastating second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton in 2009, a performance that cemented his status as a global superstar.[2]

Hearn revealed that Cordina was not the only Matchroom fighter offered to Sela for the high-profile slot. The promoter also pitched Jack Catterall, Conah Walker, and Lewis Crocker as potential opponents, but Cordina emerged as the frontrunner to secure the homecoming opportunity.[1]

However, the Filipino icon has every reason to be selective with his late-career matchmaking. Taking on a sharp, capable fighter like Cordina carries significant risk, and Pacquiao's camp has yet to formally accept the terms presented by the event organizers.[2][3]

For Cordina, the agreement arrives just days after a major legal victory salvaged his career prospects. He was found not guilty of an assault charge at Cardiff Magistrates' Court earlier this week, clearing a hurdle that had previously cost him a WBO lightweight title shot and threatened his boxing license.[1][4]

The Welshman has been sidelined since December 2025, when he earned a unanimous decision victory over Gabriel Flores Jr. in Stockton, California. That win helped him rebuild momentum following an eighth-round stoppage loss to Anthony Cacace in Riyadh earlier that year.[4]

Landing the Pacquiao fight would deliver the most lucrative payday and the largest global audience of Cordina's career. Fighting in his home city of Cardiff, he would have the chance to test his blistering hand speed against one of the sport's defining figures.[3][4]

Event organizers are now waiting on Pacquiao's signature to lock in the historic co-feature. Until the Hall of Famer makes his decision, Cordina remains in a holding pattern, ready to capitalize on the biggest stage British boxing has to offer.[2][3]