An enticing matchup between young undefeated super middleweight contenders Diego Pacheco 20-0 (17) and Edgar ‘The Chosen One’ Berlanga Jr 21-0 (16) is being considered for next year.
Promoter Eddie Hearn thinks it is the perfect fight for both guys, with the winner moving towards a shot at undisputed 168-pound champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 60-2-2 (39). Pacheco is The Ring’s number eight contender while the venerable 100 year old publication has Berlanga at number 10.
The 22-year-old Pacheco is a Mexican-American who boxes out of Los Angeles. He is coming off ninth-round knockout Marcelo Coceres 32-6-1 (18) at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California earlier this month. Pacheco called out Berlanga after the victory.
“He knows what it is,” Pacheco said after his thrilling win. “I’m here.”
Brookyln’s Berlanga, 26, who comes from Puerto Rican heritage, last saw action in June when he outpointed Jason Quigley 20-3 (14) over 12. He is ranked WBO number four, IBF number six and WBC number 10. His last five fights have gone the distance.
“I think that’s a massive fight in 2024,” Matchroom Boxing chief Hearn said in an interview on the promotional outfit’s YouTube channel after Pacheco’s most recent win.
“Of course, Edgar wants the big names, if you like. The [Jamie] Munguias and obviously the Canelo Alvarezes, but if Diego keeps winning, he’s gonna put himself right in contention.
“He’s number three with the WBO and I think he’s top ten with every governing body [at super middleweight]. If you’re looking for opponents, why not? Why not Diego Pacheco? [Pacheco] needs a big name next. We had a nice crowd in here.
“This is going to continue to grow in Los Angeles. He’s a very popular man in South Central, and after that performance tonight, you’re going to see the crowds continue to grow.”
If the Berlanga fight cannot be made, Hearn says they will keep pushing forward with Pacheco to position him for a world title shot either against 33-year-old Mexican superstar Alvarez or whoever holds the belts at the time.
“We’re going to do a big building job on him in 2024 to put him in a position to fight for a world championship in 2025. That’s the plan,” Hearn said.
“Obviously, Canelo has all of them [the titles at 168] all at the moment, but in time, when he retires or moves or doesn’t fight mandatories, his belts are going to free up. Diego is so well-positioned across the governing bodies to challenge for them, particularly with the WBO.
“So he’s in a great position. We’re not in a terrible rush with Diego Pacheco. As you said, the matchmaking was perfect tonight. Now, we need a step up from Coceres. They’re not many steps. There’s probably one or two steps before you get to the world champions and I think that works perfectly for us timing-wise.”
