Half a Yes in Cardiff
Joe Cordina has said yes to Manny Pacquiao. Manny hasn't said anything. And Floyd says he's guaranteed 110 million for the rematch. The Cardiff undercard is turning into a room full of people who've agreed with themselves.
Joe Cordina has said yes to Manny Pacquiao. Manny hasn't said anything. And Floyd says he's guaranteed 110 million for the rematch. The Cardiff undercard is turning into a room full of people who've agreed with themselves.
Manny Pacquiao might fight a Welshman in Cardiff before he ever fights Floyd Mayweather again. Joe Cordina has agreed terms. Manny's side hasn't. That makes two big fights on the Fury v Joshua card where one man has said yes and we're all waiting on the other.
Here's the receipt. Eddie Hearn, at a media day on Thursday UK time: "We've agreed terms to face Pacquiao, but we don't know if it's happening. From our side, we've agreed to do it." That's BBC Sport Wales, and ESPN says the agreed terms include the purse. Cordina is from Cardiff, a two-time world champion at 130 pounds. Manny is 47, hasn't fought since a draw with Mario Barrios at welterweight in July 2025, and has never boxed in the UK.
Sound familiar? It should. Deontay Wilder's manager said a fortnight ago they'd "accepted" an offer to fight Jai Opetaia on the same night. Jai's in camp on the Gold Coast. Still no paper. The Cardiff card has one main event, two half yeses, and a stadium that sold out in an hour without either of them.
The barber, a Lebanese-Australian bloke from Bankstown, had a towel over his shoulder and an opinion ready. "Saying yes first is the cheapest thing in boxing," he said. "Costs you nothing. Makes the other bloke look scared." The regular in the chair, a nurse coming off nights, wasn't having it. "Or Cordina just wants the biggest payday of his life in his own city." Both true. Hearn gets to say his fighter is ready. Manny's camp gets to take its time. Nobody's lying. Nobody's signed.
Now the part that matters for the rematch. On the PBD Podcast this week, Floyd said a Pacquiao rematch is still on and that he'd be "guaranteed 110 million." He says the Netflix offer was 27.5 million each, and he knocked it back. His logic, in his words: "Well, he loses, and he gets the exact same amount as I get? Absolutely not."
Here's the mechanism. Floyd's whole price is built on Manny being the B side. Put Manny in Cardiff against a younger man who won his belts three divisions lighter, and that price gets tested in public. Manny wins well, he's paid, he's back on a global stream, and the gap Floyd's demanding looks greedy. Manny looks 47, and the rematch stops being worth 110 million to anyone. Either way, Cardiff sets Floyd's number. That's why Manny's silence might be the smartest move in the building.
Rumour flag, clearly marked. Combat Sports UK says Manny has also been linked to Shakur Stevenson or Amir Khan for the same bill. Nothing on paper for either.
Quick shop notes. Dalton Smith kept his WBC title on a split decision over Alberto Puello in Sheffield and called out Shakur straight away. "This takes me back to the Ricky Hatton, Floyd Mayweather days," he told DAZN. Hearn: "I know Shakur Stevenson loves Sheffield in May." Shakur is a free agent since leaving Zuffa without a fight. David Benavidez says his December fight with Cieslak is the last on his Sampson Lewkowicz deal, and he's launching DB Promotions in 2027 with PBC still in the picture. So the man Jai meets in May could be promoting his own show. O'Shaquie Foster beat Emanuel Navarrete in San Antonio this afternoon our time, a unanimous decision with two knockdowns in the 12th, and now holds three of the four belts at 130. Tszyu v Lara still has no date or venue.
Short version. Cordina said yes. Wilder said yes. Floyd said 110 million. In Cardiff, only a signature counts.
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The barber and the regular in the chair are composites. Every named fighter and promoter is quoted on the record.
Rico Holt · ricoholt.com
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