Promoter Eddie Hearn wants Jaime Munguia to be Diego Pacheco’s next fight following his victory over the always strong Maciej Sulecki on Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Munguia’s Price Tag May Go Up Big
It is not clear if Hearn wants Munguia because he may put the fight between him and Pacheco on DAZN PPV to help with the financial costs of putting the fight together. Even if he can’t be put on PPV, Munguia would want a guaranteed purse that might be out of Hearn’s price range.
Hearn thinks a fight between Pacheco and Munguia will easily sell out the Crypto Arena in Los Angeles. However, it is questionable whether Hearn can raise enough money to interest Munguia in that fight.
Hearn refused to meet WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr. who wanted a rematch between Hearn and promoted IBF champion Jaron Boots Ennis.
Hearn gave Norman Jr. $1.75 million and will not go up. That was surprising because Hearn sounded very keen on Boots when he signed him to Matchroom, but so far, he has shown no willingness to invest in his future.
What was surprising was how Hearn made a big deal about Norman Jr. disagreeing with his $1.75 million offer. He talked like it was a lot of money.
If Hearn can’t come up with the money that God wants, Pacheco won’t fight him. Munguia is a different type of fighter than the guys Hearn was picking for him. He’ll want more money, and Hearn won’t encourage him to take the fight if he’s not willing to offer at least $5 million or more.
Other Pacheco Options:
– Bektemir Melikuziev
– Erik Bazinyan
– Rohan Murdock
– Zach Parker
– Kevin Lele Sadjo
– Sergiy Derevyanchenko
– Vladimir Shishkin
The above fighters should be more affordable for Hearn if he faces financial issues limiting what he can offer under $2 million for Pacheco’s next opponent.
“It’s rare that you have someone fighting at that age, good, 23-0 in the world, and I think he’s got a big future ahead of him,” said Eddie Hearn on the iFL TV YouTube channel, referring to Diego Pacheco.
Pacheco’s performance against the 35-year-old Sulecki (32-3, 12 KOs) was out of this world. Pacheco looked respectable against the taller fighter, but he was far from stopping the Polish fighter in the sixth round with a body shot.
Hearn needs to look at the truth about Pacheco’s future because he hasn’t shown the talent that would suggest he will take over as the number one fighter at 168 after Canelo Alvarez’s retirement. Some of the smaller fighters will beat Pacheco and make it look easy. Guys like Osleys Iglesias and Christian Mbilli can destroy Pacheco.
“I think Mnguia is a complete fighter. He found Mnguia, a Mexican star who is very supportive,” said Hearn. “You have Diego Pacheco; there was a lot of wind there tonight. That sells out the Staples Center easily, and it’s a great fight. Diego’s tough fight.”
Munguia’s Camp Can’t Agree
Even if Hearn could come up with the money that Nukulukania would want by fighting Pacheco, it’s a matchup that his promoters at Top Rank probably won’t approve of. Why would they do that? Munguia lost his last fight against Canelo on May 4, and needs to rebuild. They won’t match Munguia against Pacheco, especially if all Hearn is offering is a lowball, hoping he can get him for a lower price.
“I really like them, but it has to be those kinds of fights because we’re here [Pacheco] he will be called mandatory for the winner of Canelo-Berlanga. Thankfully that won’t happen until September 2025. That’s the time of year. So two more fights, okay. It’s a great time because when it comes, we don’t deny it. You have to take it,” Hearn said.
Pacheco may get a title shot against super middleweight champion Canelo in 2025, but he won’t be ready for that fight. The talent gap between Canelo and Pacheco is too wide for the 23-year-old Diego to be ready for that fight next year.
“So, someone like Munguia would be a perfect fit to upgrade Diego Pacheco,” Hearn said.
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