Manny Pacquiao to Face Ruslan Provodnikov in Las Vegas Exhibition on April 18
Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring on April 18 for an exhibition match against Russia’s Ruslan Provodnikov in Las Vegas, a bout that matters for fans and the boxing calendar even though it will not alter either fighter’s professional record. The 47-year-old’s appearance at the Thomas & Mack Center is his second outing since he ended a four-year retirement last summer with a majority draw.
Manny Pacquiao: Development details
The fight is scheduled for April 18 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Promoters confirmed the event and quoted Pacquiao emphasizing his connection to fans. This will be Pacquiao’s second ring return after he fought to a majority draw with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in July — the end of a four-year retirement span that preceded his comeback.
Pacquiao, 47, is the only eight-division world champion and carries a professional ledger of 62 wins, eight losses and three draws from 73 fights. His planned opponent, 42-year-old Ruslan Provodnikov, is a former junior welterweight world champion whose pro career ran from 2006 to 2016; he amassed 30 bouts with 25 wins. The match has been billed as an exhibition, and the result will have no impact on either fighter’s official professional record.
Promoters also noted the location’s history: the Thomas & Mack Center has hosted notable Las Vegas fights and will stage this reunion of former world champions. The pairing followed failed talks for Pacquiao to face WBA welterweight titlist Rolly Romero earlier in the year, leaving the exhibition with Provodnikov as the next confirmed date on Pacquiao’s schedule.
Context and escalation
The bout reassembles two fighters whose careers crossed paths years earlier. Provodnikov once served as a sparring partner for Pacquiao as the Filipino prepared to defend his WBO welterweight title against Timothy Bradley in 2012. Provodnikov later reached his own peak by stopping Mike Alvarado to win the WBO light welterweight belt in 2013, though he lost the title in his lone defense the following year.
Provodnikov’s record includes a string of notable encounters: a closely contested unanimous decision loss to Timothy Bradley for a world title and a majority decision defeat to Lucas Matthysse. Three of his five career losses were to fighters Pacquiao also defeated — Algieri, Bradley and Matthysse — underscoring their overlapping paths through the divisions.
Pacquiao’s post-boxing public life is also part of the backdrop: he served in the Philippine Senate and mounted a presidential campaign before retiring in 2021. He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025, a recognition that frames this latest return to competition.
Immediate impact
The confirmed date and venue put promoters, the Thomas & Mack Center and fans into motion: April 18 is now the concrete milestone for logistical planning, promotion and training camps. Because the contest is designated an exhibition, neither fighter’s professional record will change as a consequence, which affects how the bout will be framed in rankings and official histories.
For Pacquiao, the match extends his comeback timeline: it follows the July outing that ended his four-year absence and stands as his second post-retirement appearance. For Provodnikov, the fight represents a return to the ring after a decade away from pro competition, drawing attention because of his past championship status and his 30-fight professional résumé.
Forward outlook
The next confirmed milestone is the April 18 event itself at the Thomas & Mack Center. Preparations will now focus on finalizing promotional arrangements, training schedules and the standard pre-fight procedures that precede high-profile exhibitions. No professional rankings will be affected by the outcome, and the match will be recorded as an exhibition for both participants.
What makes this notable is the convergence of legacy and spectacle: a celebrated eight-division champion who has already been enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame will share the ring with a former world champion whose career highlights include a 2013 title win. Their prior connection as sparring partners adds an additional layer to the contest, shaping expectations about how the fight will be approached in camp and marketed in the weeks ahead.
