2 hrs ago
1 min read
Super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco is ready to jump straight into the division's deep end.
Pacheco (26-0, 19 KOs) is coming off an 11th-round knockout of Immanuwel Aleem last month. With the win, The Ring's No. 6-ranked super middleweight contender ensured he'd maintain his position in the middle of the pack.
He immediately pushed for a fight against WBA super middleweight champion Jaime Munguia, but promoter Eddie Hearn proposed other potential encounters against Armando Resendiz and Bruno Surace that would lead to more seasoning for the still-green Pacheco.
Pacheco is remaining patient and trusting the process, but the 25-year-old Los Angeles native insists he's ready for titleholders and top contenders, especially with new coach Buddy McGirt at the helm.
"I've been looked at as high-risk, low-reward before, but I've been promised a world title fight in this contract with Matchroom, and hopefully we can get that. I want a big-name opponent next," Pacheco told The Ring.
"Each of the champions is a tough fight and tough fighters. They are all even. If I can pick any of the champions, it would be Munguia because I feel that he's the biggest name and biggest draw. It would be a tough fight for both of us. That would be a great fight in Los Angeles, and the fans would love it.
"Munguia is under Eddy Reynoso, and if I were to beat a guy like Munguia, I think it would line up the Canelo Alvarez fight perfectly. In a perfect world, that's how it would go down."
After declining fights against Christian Mbilli and Hamzah Sheeraz over the last year for a multitude of reasons, Pacheco proclaimed he's ready for the entire 168-pound gauntlet, a group that also includes titleholder Osleys Iglesias and top commodities like Caleb Plant, Jermall Charlo, Edgar Berlanga, and Demetrius Andrade.
"I'm in the second stage of my career now where the learning stage is over," Pacheco said. "Now it's time to go all in and really build that legacy, and I'm going to get there by finding the top names."
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