MP Promotions

Manny Pacquiao Promotions, abbreviated as MPP or MP Promotions, is a Philippine boxing promotion based in General Santos, South Cotabato, Philippines. Founded by eight-division world champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame 2025 inductee Manny Pacquiao in 2006, it is known for promoting prominent boxers from the Philippines, including world champions such as Mark Magsayo and John Riel Casimero, as well as Isaac Cruz.

In 2025, MP Promotions launched its United States branch headquartered in Beverly Hills, California under the leadership of President Sean Gibbons and Vice President Tony Cohen to expand the promotion's reach in the North and South America.

History

The company was established in 2006 founded by eight-division world champion and Boxing's Hall of Fame inductee Manny Pacquiao. Sean Gibbons is currently its president and official matchmaker. The promotion's aim is to help young aspiring boxers, especially in the Philippines.

MP Promotions promoted its first major event on July 2, 2006, where Pacquiao defended his WBC International super featherweight title against Óscar Larios which was held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines.

It is currently the biggest boxing promotion on the Philippines, following the unexpected closure of the fabled ALA Boxing, a Cebu-based boxing stable, after 35 years owing to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of longtime TV partner ABS-CBN. MP Promotions is in partnership with Viva Promotions, Knuckleheads Boxing, Elorde Boxing Gym, Omega Boxing Gym, Sanman Boxing Gym, Teiken Promotions, Ohashi Promotions and TGB (Tom G. Brown) Promotions.

On Oct 2, 2025, Manny Pacquiao launched the promotion's first ever official event headlined by Elijah Pierce vs. Lorenzo Parra in a 12-round WBO featherweight title eliminator, at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California, United States. The fight also featured the pro boxing debut of Manny Pacquiao's son Jimuel, on a venture designed to reshape “the future of the sport he helped define”.

Pacquiao’s long-time advisor Sean Gibbons served as the president while Tony Cohen is named as the chief financial officer and vice president. Cohen, a Hollywood executive, is leading the plans to take the promotion into new markets and media platforms. He is also developing a new pay-per-view platform to revolutionize the way combat sports content is delivered to global audiences.

Notable events

Fight of Champions

MP Promotions signed up with Astro SuperSport, the Malaysia-based broadcasting group for the exclusive rights to air the “Fight of Champions” match between eight-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and current WBA (Regular) welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina, on July 15, 2018 at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It also featured three other world title fights in the undercard, and was broadcast live in over 100 countries worldwide, including the United States, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific region, Caribbean and Oceania.

Pacquiao ended the bout in the seventh round when he floored Matthysse again for the TKO win – his first stoppage win since 2009, becoming the new WBA (Regular) welterweight champion.

Thrilla in Manila: The 50th Anniversary

On October 29, 2025, both the promotion and the Filipino TV program Blow by Blow presented an event that took place at the Araneta Coliseum, which also paid homage to the 50th anniversary of the original Thrilla in Manila 1975 fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. The event was led by the reigning WBC mini-flyweight champion Melvin Jerusalem vs Siyakholwa Kuse, alongside some notable boxers under the MP Promotions banner such as the Olympic Bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, Carl Jammes Martin, former unified super bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales, as well as Nico Ali Walsh, the great grandson of Muhammad Ali, who also participated in the event.

List of events

Note: Some notable featured main bouts held under MP Promotions

Notable boxers

List of affiliated World Champions

Trainers

• Freddie Roach
• Buboy Fernandez
• Nonoy Neri
• Ting Ariosa
• Marvin Somodio
• Bobby McRoy
• Abel Martin
• Ernel Fontanilla
• Joven Jimenez
• Isaac Cruz Sr.

Announcers

• Mark Anthony "Silver Voice" Lontayao / Marc Yao
• Bobby Mondejar

See also

• ALA Promotions
• Top Rank
• Blow by Blow (Philippine boxing program)
• Pedro Taduran vs. Christian Balunan

External links

• (Korea)