Diego Pacheco Needs to Fight Edgar Berlanga Next
Diego Pacheco (23-0, 18 KOs) and Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOa) are two world-ranked super middleweights with aspirations of fighting for a world title in 2025. Despite their ambitions, their best course of action and focus should be on fighting each other, especially after recent comments from Berlanga.
GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTS
Pacheco scored a unanimous decision victory over Steve Nelson on January 25 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Following his win, the unbeaten fighter from Los Angeles, California said he’s willing and ready to fight anyone in the top five at 168. Berlanga responded on social media with the following message for Pacheco.
It’s boastful words from Berlanga, who felt he elevated himself following the sole defeat of his career to reigning unified super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in September 2024. After engaging in such a high-profile outing, the 27-year-old Berlanga views himself as a cash cow at 168. Pacheco was the 3kingsboxing.com 2024 Prospect of the Year. Some pundits and fans on boxing message boards believe the 23-year-old is a future star and will be a world champion at both 168 and 175.
FEW OTHER OPTIONS
Pacheco is ranked first and Berlanga is ranked third by the WBO at super middleweight. But that doesn’t mean that a world title fight is imminent. That’s because the division rests largely on the moves and actions of Alvarez.
While William Scull is the IBF title holder, he brings little attention to the boxing masses outside his adopted home country of Italy. In an era where the title of ‘world champion’ has been diluted, Scull is one of the lowest-regarded reigning world title holders in boxing.
ALL THE CARDS ARE IN PLACE
Berlanga feels Pacheco is easy pickings. Pacheco is on record saying The Chosen One is on his hit list. It’s a battle that would draw in the hardcore base. On paper, their styles should produce a fairly entertaining scrap.
Both men fight under the Matchroom banner. After Pacheco’s win over Nelson, Matchroom Chairman Eddie Hearn expressed interest in making the matchup.
Berlanga has an upcoming fight in March. Should he win, Hearn should move forward and negotiate a late spring/early summer showdown between Berlanga and Pacheco. It’s a fight that makes all the sense in the world.
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