By Jack Walsh
IN an entertaining six rounds, Diego Pacheco knocked out Maciej Sulecki with a jarring left uppercut to the body last Saturday, as the two co-headlined an eight-fight card (five of which were televised) at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Pacheco, the 23-year-old California native, started out relatively slow in terms of fight pace but eventually built up momentum by initiating the use of his strong right hand and constant pesky jab against his 35-year-old Polish opponent.
But, the question remains now: what is next for Pacheco, who is the #1 ranked super-middleweight in the WBO, and potential mandatory for Canelo Álvarez?
Pacheco claims, like all other young fighters, that he is undeniably ready for Álvarez, but true boxing fans know that this fight would never prove amusing, especially with defensive holes that were clearly present throughout his performance last Saturday evening.
Maciej is an above-average professional, although he is a middle-of-the-road contender who has fought lesser opponents and journeymen over his last few bouts. He was still able to land cleanly and efficiently against Pacheco at times, for example, his sharp left hook in round three.
Pacheco fights with his hands down in spurts and lacks consistent head movement, which is a true recipe for disaster for someone potentially facing hall-of-fame-level offences—like Canelo.
The saying “iron sharpens iron” is certainly true in the boxing world, but usually not against experienced legends in their ladder career years. This is why fighters in the top 10 need to start fighting one another frequently rather than jump at a pay-per-view payday that may present itself if sought out. It’s better for contenders’ experience, legacy, and building up boxing as a sport, which only presents nail-biting championship events.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 04: Canelo Alvarez lands a left against Jaime Munguia in their super middleweight championship title fight at T-Mobile Arena on May 04, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Pacheco’s Promoter, Eddie Hearn, and all boxing pundits alike seem to feel that a Jaime Munguia matchup would be the perfect test for Pacheco — and it would be.
Munguia is a former WBO junior-middleweight world champion and should serve as a mirror example for Pacheco regarding why lack of experience and developmental flaws cannot outweigh determination and hunger to dominate an all-time, former undisputed great in Canelo.
Munguia is a step up in competition for Pacheco, and only if Diego defeats him will he perhaps prove that he has a fighting chance against Canelo.
But, even still, running through a few fighters in the top 10 — which he claimed he is open to doing in the post-fight DAZN interview — seems like a smart move to “sharpen his iron” and brighten up his defensive skills to really earn a competitive shot at the strap.