It looks like Manny Pacquiao fighting Ruslan Provodnikov in an exhibition is still up in the air.
ESPN has reported that there’s actually no deal yet for the said exhibition, which Pacquiao himself announced in a press release on the Manny Pacquiao Promotions website. Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Jas Mathur clarified that an exhibition fight with Provodnikov is, indeed, being considered, but it hasn’t been finalized and is not official as of this writing.
“It’s not official or else you would’ve seen a lot more announced by Manny directly on that,” Mathur told ESPN. “I would’ve also participated in that, and it is just not official.”
Mathur added that it’s also possible the exhibition doesn’t happen at all.
Manny Pacquiao Turning Full Attention to Floyd Mayweather Jr. for September?
Curiously, this backtracking coincides with the announcement that Manny Pacquiao will be fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. in an official bout that will count toward the two fighters’ respective records. Pacquiao-Mayweather II will reportedly take place in September at Las Vegas’ infamous Sphere.
With an actual prizefight against a former tormentor on the horizon, it’s understandable why PacMan would want to scrap his initial plans of fighting Provodnikov in an exhibition. After all, even with both Pacquiao and Mayweather on their way to 50, the fight might still be a box-office hit given their history and name recognition. Besides, for the fighting pride of the Philippines, the rematch with Money is a stab not only at a huge payday, but also at giving the unbeaten American his first loss.
Even with the uncertainty, Mathur insisted to ESPN that an exhibition is still on the table despite Pacquiao-Mayweather II already being announced.
“Will there be another exhibition potentially for Manny before the Mayweather fight? Yes, there will,” Mathur said. “I can’t say if it’ll be that one [against Provodnikov] or if it will be something else, but as of right now, that particular fight is not done.”
