Manny Pacquiao has not finalized an April 18 exhibition bout with Ruslan Provodnikov, according to Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions.
Banner Promotions announced last week that Pacquiao would face Provodnikov in a 10-round exhibition at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. However, Mathur told ESPN the fight remains unconfirmed, despite tickets being sold on Pacquiao’s website.
“It’s not official or else you would’ve seen a lot more announced by Manny directly on that,” Mathur said. “I would’ve also participated in that, and it is just not official.” He added that while an exhibition before the September 19 rematch with Floyd Mayweather is likely, it may not be against Provodnikov. “Will there be another exhibition potentially for Manny before the Mayweather fight? Yes, there will. I can’t say if it’ll be that one or if it will be something else, but as of right now, that particular fight is not done.”
Pacquiao’s professional rematch with Mayweather was announced Monday and is scheduled for September 19 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, streaming globally on Netflix. Pacquiao last fought in July 2025, returning from a four-year retirement to battle then-WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a majority draw.
Image Credit: BBC