Diego Pacheco made a bold statement on Saturday night by calling out Canelo Alvarez following his sixth-round knockout victory over Maciej Sulecki at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The 23-year-old super middleweight prospect declared his readiness to take on the unified champion, positioning himself as the WBO's #1 contender.
However, the reaction from fans on social media has been less enthusiastic. Many believe Pacheco isn’t yet prepared for a step up to the elite level, pointing out that he was hit frequently by the veteran Sulecki throughout the fight. Despite his impressive knockout, critics argue that Pacheco’s defensive vulnerabilities could be exposed against top-tier opponents like Canelo, Jaime Munguia, or Christian Mbilli.
Promoter Eddie Hearn is confident in Pacheco’s abilities, even suggesting a potential fight against Jaime Munguia as a significant next step. While Hearn is excited about Pacheco’s future, he also acknowledges that securing a fight against Canelo could be a massive opportunity.
Pacheco himself is eager to embrace the challenge, stating that he’s ready to take on Canelo if the opportunity arises. “I don’t back down from any challenge,” Pacheco said confidently after his victory. Hearn echoed this sentiment, calling Pacheco’s performance a ”coming of age” moment, although some believe this might be an overstatement given the level of competition Pacheco has faced so far.
The debate now centers on whether Pacheco is truly ready for the big boys. Critics argue that he should first prove himself against other top contenders like Osleys Iglesias, Christian Mbilli, or Caleb Plant before taking on a legend like Canelo.
Read more about Pacheco’s career here.
Image Credit: Matchroom boxing