Joe Cordina’s aspirations of stepping into the ring against legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao on the undercard of the upcoming Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua event appear to have fallen through.
Cardiff Undercard Plans
The 34-year-old former IBF super-featherweight champion had aimed to fight the 47-year-old Pacquiao in his home city at the Principality Stadium on December 11. Although the fight card in Cardiff remains incomplete, current confirmations feature strictly heavyweight matchups supporting the all-British main event between Fury and Joshua.
Confirmed bouts announced so far include Deontay Wilder versus Jai Opetaia, Da’Mazion Vanhouter versus Michael Essomba, and Martin Bakole versus Solomon Adebayo. Turki Alalshikh, a member of the Saudi Royal Court and co-founder of Zuffa Boxing, has confirmed that the December 11 lineup is still not fully finalized.
Promoter Reaction and Alternative Plans
Cordina’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has previously voiced criticism regarding the announced undercard structure. According to Hearn, Cordina had agreed to terms for the Pacquiao matchup, but the Filipino multi-division champion—who has remained inactive since July 2025—did not reciprocate. Reports suggest Pacquiao may instead target an opponent in early 2027, with an official announcement anticipated shortly.
Despite the setback with Pacquiao, Hearn stated that he has lined up a significant fight for Cordina in January. Hearn has maintained that a prominent Welsh athlete must take part in what stands as one of modern boxing’s most anticipated fight cards.
“Not having a two-time world champion from Wales on the undercard is crazy,” Hearn told IFL TV.
Should the matchup with Pacquiao fail to materialize completely, alternative opponents previously mentioned by Hearn include Abdullah Mason, Shakur Stevenson, and Keyshawn Davis.
