There has been plenty of speculation surrounding Manny Pacquiao's in-ring return in recent months.

The 47-year-old Filipino legend was encouraged to continue boxing professionally after his 12-round majority draw against then-WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in July 2025.

Yet while several names and proposed fights across multiple weight divisions have been rumored, nothing has materialized.

Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn shared that while not official, everything is settled for a big chief support bout preceding Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on December 11, live on Netflix.

"We've agreed terms to fight Manny Pacquiao but, I'm not saying it's done," Hearn told The Ring on Thursday.

"We were approached about the fight, agreed the purse and now we're waiting to hear. I think Pacquiao-Cordina at Millennium Stadium would be wild, a kid from Cardiff fighting Pacquiao after everything he's been through recently as well. Hopefully Sela make that fight, Pacquiao is in for it and that's what we'll get."

Pacquiao-Cordina would be contested at welterweight. If agreed, this would represent a first fight on British shores for Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs), who has long shared his desire to fight in the country before retiring.

Fantasy fights against welterweight duo Amir Khan and Conor Benn were explored but fell through over the past decade, and the 2025 Hall of Fame inductee will end a 17-month layoff should terms be agreed.

BoxingScene reported last month that Pacquiao had an agreement with Sela to feature on the Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua undercard with four British names offered up as potential opponents.

Cordina (19-1, 9 KOs) was originally training for a July 4 shot at WBO world lightweight champion Abdullah Mason, after outpointing Gabriel Flores in a December 2025 final eliminator.

Pending criminal charges saw him denied a US travel visa, though the case was dismissed on October 20. A judge found the 34-year-old not guilty of assault following a trial at Cardiff Magistrates' Court.

The former champion's lawyer Nadeem Majid would later tell the assembled media: "Joe would now like to continue to concentrate on his family and boxing, and we'd all like to see him on the bill in December."

Mason scored a come-from-behind stoppage win over Albert Bell in Cordina's absence, and has been open this week about returning sometime in December to make his second title defense before the year ends.