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From ‘Unlike Anything Before’ to Exhibition: Pacquiao vs. Provodnikov Signals Change

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Manny Pacquiao and Ruslan Provodnikov pictured on the official “The Road To Glory” poster ahead of their April 18 exhibition at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

When World Boxing News first spoke to Indistry Media in October, Manny Pacquiao’s next fight was described as “unlike anything boxing fans have experienced before.”

Four months later, the first public chapter of this plan was revealed, which is very different from the original assumptions.

Pacquiao will face former world champion Ruslan Provodnikov in a ten-round welterweight main event on Saturday, April 18 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The event is presented by Indistry Media in partnership with Banner Promotions, the same company that previously outlined a broader, multi-platform vision for Pacquiao’s return to WBN.

The connection itself brings intrigue. Pacquiao and Provodnikov were two of the most versatile fighters of their era, rarely taking part in monotonous fights.

Provodnikov, in particular, has built his reputation on relentless pressure and piercing exchanges – a style that thrives in fully sanctioned fights but doesn’t always naturally conform to the controlled pace and unofficial confines of an exhibition.

This is what makes the matchup engaging. It also presents the main question surrounding this rollout: not the warriors, but the scale surrounding the reveal compared to what was initially outlined.

The computer vision industry first presented to WBN

In October, Indistry hailed Pacquiao’s return as the start of something transformative. Chief operating officer Erroll Angara told WBN that the event will be “unlike anything boxing fans have experienced before,” suggesting a change in the way boxing’s premier show is delivered.

In December, the range seemed to widen further. WBN exclusively reported that talks were underway with several distribution partners, including Netflix, which was described as a “mighty option” at the time.

At this point, the message pointed to a broader media play – expanded distribution, continuity of multiple events and a apparent second phase built around the Pacquiao name.

What was announced on April 18

Tuesday’s reveal had a more conventional structure.

Pacquiao vs. Provodnikov is an exhibition. Tickets are on sale. The full undercard has not yet been announced.

This absence is noticeable given previous public mentions of distribution talks. The current announcement made no mention of previously discussed distribution talks – including with Netflix – or a Mayweather rematch.

But that doesn’t mean the bigger vision has disappeared. But it highlights how much of the original plan remains hidden in this first announcement.

The title “The Road to Glory” suggests that something bigger may be on the horizon.

A first step, not a final image

Pacquiao is now 48 years elderly. In July 2025, he fought to a draw against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame the same year.

Each appearance at this stage shapes the final chapters of his career. The exhibition against Provodnikov offers nostalgia and probable action, even if the Russian’s offensive style raises the obvious question of how naturally it fits into the parameters of the exhibition.

If further announcements are made – including confirmed distribution details or a larger second phase later in the year – this event could ultimately be seen as a bridge to something bigger.

For now, the first part of Indistry’s Pacquiao era looks more like a conventional exhibition than the transformational event described at the beginning.


About the author
Phil Jay is a seasoned boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and covered boxing’s biggest nights in the ring.

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Roy Jones Jr sums up Tyson Fury’s chances of beating top-ranked Lennox Lewis

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Roy Jones Jr sums up Tyson Fury’s chances of beating a prime Lennox Lewis

Britain has produced some great heavyweights in recent years, ending an almost century-long curse and seeing success in the division ever since. Predicting the outcome of the clash between two of the best fighters in the country, Lennox Lewis and Tyson Fury, Roy Jones Jr said it would be a “great fight”.

Bob Fitzsimmons became the first British world heavyweight champion in 1897, and he and Jones remain the only two fighters in boxing history to have won both middleweight and heavyweight world titles.

However, Great Britain struggled for success in the division after the Fitzsimmons fight, unable to claim heavyweight supremacy until Lennox Lewis became WBC world champion in 1992. Britain has since crowned its title 11th world heavyweight championFabio Wardley, who follows in the footsteps of Fury and Anthony Joshua.

In an interview with Grosvenor CasinoJones said he would give Lewis an advantage over the “Gypsy King” if they met in their prime.

“Tyson Fury vs. Lennox Lewis? That would be a great fight, but my first thought was Lennox Lewis because of his power. But my second thought was also that Tyson Fury was great at making adjustments. I would go with Lennox Lewis.”

At least one heavyweight world title is expected to remain in a Briton’s hands for some time, with Daniel Dubois scheduled to face another Briton, Fabio Wardley, for the WBO belt next month.

In the meantime, we hope 21-year-old Moses Itauma can continue Britain’s success for many years to come, with the youngster considered by many to be the hottest prospect in boxing.

As for Fury, he is focused on the UK-wide megafight with Joshua – their own ‘Battle of Britain’ after Lennox fought Frank Bruno in 1993.

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Jermell Charlo says Derrick James has changed with fame

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Image: Jermell Charlo says Derrick James changed as success grew

“Derrick James, he started getting a little more players and a little more buzz, and I feel like our communication has changed,” Charlo told Brian Custer.

Charlo said that as James built a larger stable, there was less hands-on time spent with him and more trying to control the gym environment. He claimed that James wanted things done his way, including telling players to remove dogs from the gym during training sessions and changing the atmosphere that helped build their success.

Charlo has been out of the ring since his loss to Saul Alvarez in 2023, and James recently split from Errol Spence Jr. A coach once considered one of the safest hands in the sport is suddenly facing public criticism from two of his biggest names.

“He wanted it his way,” Charlo said. “Coach needs us. Don’t overdo it, coach. Serene down, coach. I was your first champion.”

He also pointed to his camp leading up to the Alvarez fight, saying the support around him wasn’t the same when he needed it most.

“You don’t enter into a world title fight like that,” Charlo said.

Charlo still believes he can regain his spot in the junior middleweight division, and talks about a possible fight with Sebastian Fundora are ongoing later this year. His confidence hasn’t changed, but his patience with ancient alliances has noticeably changed. Sometimes a rift begins when success changes the room.

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Prince Naseem Hamed predicts Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight: ‘It’s going to sound crazy’

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Prince Naseem Hamed predicts Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: “This is going to sound mad”

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua look set to face each other later this year in what could be one of the biggest British boxing events of all time.

Another British legend, Naseem Hamed, presented the course of the fight in a surprising way.

Fury had his ring returned within a a decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this monthshaking off ring rust at the age of 37 and allegedly preparing for a showdown with Joshua that the “Gypsy King” was set to take place this summer.

However, ‘AJ’ instead maintained that he would prefer a warm-up fight first, with the Londoner expected to return to action in July, ahead of a long-awaited meeting with his arch-rival in November.

I’m talking to talkSPORT BoxingHamed was looking forward to this match and suggested that a draw could be on the cards.

“Who do I think will win the fight between AJ and Fury? Well, that is the question and everyone wants to know.

“Years ago, Tyson had this awkward style for me where he could make AJ look stupid, that’s true. Now everything has changed. Tyson seemed to have backed off a little bit.

“But with Tyson Fury you never know, maybe one night he’ll show up and box amazingly and do what he did to Wilder. Those first few rounds [against Makhmudov]I was a little disappointed that he didn’t go from the start.

“This is going to sound crazy to you, but would it be unbelievable if I said it could be a draw?”

It is unclear whether Fury will also fight in the summer or whether he will avoid risking a lucrative romance with Joshua and wait patiently on the sidelines.

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