US-BASED TBL TEAM BOXING LEAGUE and Manny Pacquiao Promotions have announced a partnership, solidifying the global boxing icon’s transition to franchise owner and long-term stakeholder in the future of the sport.
As part of the agreement, Pacquiao will join the ownership group of TBL’s San Diego TJ’s, marking a major step in the evolution of boxing toward a team-based, league-driven model built on ownership, structure, and global scalability.
For the record, TBL has a roster of 12 teams competing out of major U.S. markets, combining rising talent with seasoned veterans in a format that “lends itself to non-stop action”. Weekly events feature male and female boxing across a series of weight classes in 1-round contests within a tournament format culminating in the Money Rounds where winning and losing is determined by overall team performance.
Per an official release, the partnership represents a nine-figure commitment ($100 million+) centered on long-term platform growth, positioning Pacquiao at the forefront of a new era in boxing that emphasizes equity, participation, and global expansion.
“This is not just about fighting anymore,” the release quotes Pacquiao as having said. “This is a new chapter in my life. I have accomplished everything I wanted in boxing, and now I want to build something bigger than myself. I truly believe this is the League of Destiny, and I want to help shape the future of boxing and create opportunities for the next generation.”
TBL introduces a fast-paced, team-based format featuring city-based franchises, seasonal competition, and a structured path to championship contention—bringing consistency, rivalries, and long-term fan engagement to a historically fragmented sport.
Pacquiao’s involvement signals a broader shift in the sport, moving away from one-off events toward a scalable ecosystem where fighters, teams, and stakeholders are aligned through shared success and long-term value creation.
“This partnership represents exactly what Team Boxing League was built for,” the release quotes TBL CEO Kevin Cassidy as having said. “Bringing in a global icon like Manny Pacquiao as an owner validates our vision of transforming boxing into a true league model – one driven by structure, shared economics, and long-term opportunity for fighters, teams, and investors alike. This is how we start to scale the league globally.”
“This isn’t just Manny coming back to fight, this is Manny building an empire around boxing,” Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Jas Mathur added. “This is a nine-figure platform play focused on ownership, participation, and long-term upside. We are shifting boxing from transactions to ownership and building a global ecosystem that will support fighters, teams, and partners for years to come.”
Through this partnership, Manny Pacquiao Promotions will play a key role in helping expand TBL’s global footprint, leveraging Pacquiao’s international reach to drive new audiences and partnerships across sports, media, and entertainment while accelerating the league’s long-term growth strategy.
“I’m proud to be an owner of Manny Pacquiao’s San Diego TJ’s,” Pacquiao added. “This is my team, and I’m excited to build something special by bringing great fighters, strong competition, and a winning culture to fans around the world.”
With a focus on structure, scalability, and next-generation opportunity, TBL is positioning itself as a transformative force in the sport, offering fighters new economic models including revenue participation and long-term upside while delivering a more consistent and engaging product for fans.
