Manny Pacquiao is coming back to the boxing ring to face fellow ex-champion Ruslan Provodnikov this April.
After his razor-close draw with Mario Barrios last summer, Pacquiao had been eyeing plenty of options. A rematch with Barrios looked as if it would make probably the most sense, while a clash with Rolly Romero was also within the offing.
Nonetheless, the largest possible fight was a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, with whom he fought within the highest-grossing boxing match of all time back in 2015. His old rival has already booked in two exhibition bouts this 12 months already against Mike Tyson and Mike Zambidis.
- BRUTAL: Manny Pacquiao secured vicious revenge on a rival he called higher than Floyd Mayweather
Manny Pacquiao to face Ruslan Provodnikov in Las Vegas exhibition
Tonight, Indistry Media and Arthur Pelullo’s Banner Promotions made the surprise announcement that Manny Pacquiao can be coming back to the ring in an exhibition bout.
He’ll face former super-lightweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov, who last fought professionally in 2016 and has since moved into politics. The bout will happen over ten rounds of three minutes, and rules regarding knockdowns and stoppages etc have yet to be released.
Tickets are already on sale, with the fight set to happen on April 18 on the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Promoters are promising an evening of ‘world championship’ boxing, with tickets starting at $150 and peaking at just over $5,500.
Manny Pacquiao opens up about boxing return
In an announcement, Pacquiao said of the exhibition bout: “I carry the Philippines with me each time I fight. The support from my country and from fans around the globe continues to encourage me.
“Returning to Las Vegas means a lot to me, and I’m excited to work with a team focused on making a world-class experience for the fans. I’m coming back to offer them a terrific fight — and I’m ready.”
Erroll Angara, Co-Founder, COO of Indistry, branded it a ‘defining moment’ for his company, saying: “Manny Pacquiao vs Ruslan Provodnikov on April 18 represents greater than a marquee matchup – it signals our formal entry into the fight world and the direction we’re headed as an organization.
“We’re proud to usher in a brand new standard of premier boxing events that unite elite competition with elevated fan experiences worthy of the moment and the legacy.”
“I’m excited concerning the opportunity to work with Manny Pacquiao, a real Hall of Famer,” Arthur Pelullo, President of Banner Promotions, added.
“I would like to thank Erroll Angara, the COO of Indistry Media and Mary Landaverde the CEO of Indistry Media, for bringing me onboard to assist promote this incredible event. I’m thrilled concerning the future plans that Erroll and Mary have for the game.”