Promoter Eddie Hearn is interested in Diego Pacheco taking on newly minted Edgar Berlanga. The winner of the Berlanga-Pacheco fight could have a good chance to challenge for the world title against the star Canelo Alvarez. That’s the fight Berlanga wants after losing to Canelo via a 12-round unanimous decision last Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
(Credit: Rey Del Rio/Premier Boxing Champions)
Hearn says Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) is still the second most popular fighter in the 168 lb division. However, in order to continue to be the #2 champion in the super middleweight division, he needs to continue his momentum by fighting a highly skilled opponent like Diego Pacheco (22-0, 18 KOs).
Berlanga has never beaten a true opponent in five during his eight-year professional career, and a fight with Pacheco will give him that chance.
Pacheco is ranked #1 WBO, #4 IBF, and #4 WBC. He’s coming off a sixth round win over veteran Maciej Sulecki on August 31st and looked good in that fight. Pacheco’s power, size, and hitting combination make him a formidable presence for anyone in the division.
With his large cruiserweight frame, Berlanga will weigh heavily over the thin Pacheco. Assuming Berlanga enters the ring at 193 pounds on fight night, Pacheco will have to figure out how to handle that size for 12 rounds. Diego wouldn’t count on knocking out Berlanga because he showed that he can even land big punches at super middleweight in his fight with Canelo last weekend.
“Diego [Pacheco] he’s a young fighter with something to prove, but Edgar [Berlanga] he recently fought Canelo Alvarez, and his stock really went up. I think Diego will be chasing Berlanga. “All young boxers should chase Edgar Berlanga,” said Eddie Hearn in a press conference after the fight last Saturday night.
Hearn also stated that he wants to match Berlanga with Caleb Plant and Jaime Munguia. It’s unclear how soon Hearn will want Berlanga to fight either of the two, but it’s not likely in his plans for his next fight. Ideally, Berlanga needs a confidence-boosting opponent in his next fight to bring him back and get the fans used to seeing him win again.
Hearn needs to pick an opponent that fans have heard of and who isn’t considered soft for Berlanga’s next fight.
Berlanga’s next battle options:
– Trevor McCumby
– Sergiy Derevyanchenko
– Bektemir Melikuziev
– Demetrius Andrade
– Kevin Lele Sadjo
Eddie Hearn is next for Edgar Berlanga#CaneloBerlanga pic.twitter.com/L2g0aV5moD
– Sal Arteaga (@sal__arteaga) September 15, 2024
