Diego Pacheco (22-0, 18 KOs) introduced that he’s able to face Canelo Alvarez following his sixth-round knockout victory over Maciej Sulecki (32-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday evening on the Dignity Well being Sports activities Park in Carson, California.
(Credit score: Michael Owens/Matchroom)
Followers and Pundits React
Followers on social media overwhelmingly mentioned Pacheco is “not prepared” to face Canelo after watching how he carried out in opposition to the previous veteran Sulecki on Saturday evening. The tall, stork-like 6’4″ Pacheco was getting hit rather a lot in each spherical, together with the sixth.
He’s not defensively sound and is getting by along with his offense and the low degree of opposition he’s been going through. Consider it or not, Sulecki was a step up for Pacheco, and he’s nowhere close to the extent of fighters like Canelo, Jaime Munguia, Christian Mbilli, or the 2 abilities that just lately left the 168-lb division, David Benavidez and David Morrell.
Pacheco is unified tremendous middleweight champion Canelo’s #1 WBO contender, and if the sanctioning physique orders that struggle subsequent, Diego, 23, says he’ll take it. First, Canelo must defend in opposition to his WBA necessary Edgar Berlanga on September 14th in Las Vegas.
Hearn’s Enthusiasm Meets Skepticism
Hearn Eyes Munguia as Interim Opponent
Pacheco’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, mentioned tonight that he’d like for Diego to face Jaime Munguia.
“The physique shot, and that’s all she wrote,” mentioned Diego Pacheco to DAZN Boxing, speaking about his knockout win over Maciej Sulecki on Saturday evening. “Once I noticed him fall, I might inform he wasn’t getting up.”
Sulecki was able to go by the fifth spherical after getting damage by a proper hand from Pacheco. Initially of the sixth, Pacheco went for the end and rapidly stopped Sulecki with a left to the physique that despatched him down. Sulecki rolled on his facet after happening with the physique shot, and ever tried to get again up.
“I might inform he was feeling my punches,” mentioned Pacheco about Sulecki. “I might see that he was slowing down from the fourth or fifth spherical. Undoubtedly. I don’t again down from any problem,” mentioned Pacheco when requested if he’d be able to struggle unified tremendous middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez if the sanctioning physique calls his WBO necessary spot. “Let’s get it on.
“Eddie Hearn is correct right here. Perhaps he can inform you after I’m going to get that shot,” mentioned Pacheco.
Canelo will in all probability bounce on the likelihood to struggle Pacheco after he defends in opposition to Edgar Berlanga subsequent month. If the World Boxing Group orders the Canelo-Pacheco struggle, Canelo gained’t say no as a result of he’s a simple mark.
Hearn’s Enthusiasm Meets Skepticism
“Coming of age efficiency from a famous person within the making,” mentioned promoter Eddie Hearn about Pacheco. “He’s 23-years-old. Los Angeles is behind him. He’s #1 on the earth. The world title shot is coming, and it’s going to return very quickly.”
Hearn is getting a bit carried away by speaking about it being a “coming of age efficiency by Pacheco. For it to suit that class, Pacheco would want to beat one among these abilities:
- Osleys Iglesias
- Christian Mbilli
- Jaime Munguia
- Caleb Plant
I don’t see Pacheco beating solely Plant from that 4, and even that’s not a certain factor. If Plant catches Pacheco with one among his slap left hooks, he may knock him out.
“If it’s not Canelo, who would you prefer to see Pacheco in with?” mentioned DAZN commentator Chris Mannix.
“You speak about an enormous alternative. By the point the necessary shot comes round in opposition to Canelo Alvarez or Edgar Berlanga, Diego Pacheco in opposition to both of these guys goes to be an enormous struggle,” mentioned Hearn. “He’s going to be the necessary for the winner of Canelo Alvarez and Edgar Berlanga.”
Munguia would struggle Pacheco if it pays, but when he’s with High Rank, which may not occur. He could be higher off working his manner again to a rematch with Canelo.
