JAKARTA - Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao is confirmed to have a sparring match against his former teammate at the Wild Card Boxing Club, Ruslan Provodnikov.
The fight is scheduled to take place on April 18, 2026 at the Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, United States. Both names will fight in 10 rounds.
"I always bring the Philippines with me every time I fight. The support from my country and from fans around the world will continue to inspire me," Pacquiao said as quoted by Ring Magazine.
The exhibition fight between Pacquiao and Provodnikov was announced on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, local time, by event organizers Industrie Media and Banner Promotions owned by Arthur Pelullo.
The announcement also put an end to speculation regarding Pacquiao's plans to meet again with his old rival Floyd Mayweather and his desire to fight WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero.
"Returning to Las Vegas means a lot to me and I'm excited to work with a team that is focused on creating a world-class experience for fans," Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KO) returned from a four-year retirement in July 2025 to fight WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. The two clashes ended in a draw.
On the other hand, Provodnikov (25-5, 18 KO) has not fought as a professional boxer since 2016. The 42-year-old fighter retired after losing four of his last seven fights.
Even though his performance was not consistent, during that period it was quite significant for Provodnikov to put him on the boxing map, especially after his fight against Timothy Bradley who was named the Best Fight of 2013.
After the fight, Provodnikov, nicknamed The Siberian Rocky, defeated Mike Alvarado for the WBO 63.5-kilogram title in 2013. However, he failed to defend it in the next match against Chris Algieri in 2014.
Provodnikov also defeated a battered Jose Luis Castillo that year and lost by a majority decision to Lucas Matthysse in 2015.
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