YOU’RE going to have to be patient with Diego Pacheco.
Unbeaten in 23 fights, the towering super-middleweight is the WBO’s number one contender and a name being earmarked to eventually succeed Canelo Alvarez at the top of the division. But one key detail often gets overlooked – his age.
The Los Angeles-born fighter is only 24 years old and won’t turn 25 until March 2026. In a sport where fighters are increasingly pushed toward world-level challenges early, Pacheco is determined to move at his own pace.
“These guys that they’re matching me up with are 30, 32, 33. So for them, it’s like they need success now,” he tells Boxing News. “For me, it’s like there’s no rush. I’m 24, I’m not going to be 25 until next year. So really I’m moving at a great pace… I’m ready to fight any of these top guys. But like my team says, if the terms aren’t right, if they want you to go overseas and be B-side… then it really doesn’t make any sense.
“Why would I go over there and be B-side when I’m building my profile here in the United States? I’m just ready to continue growing and believing in my team, believing in myself and getting to these big fights.”
Pacheco returns this Saturday night in Frisco, Texas, against Trevor McCumby – a familiar name to some after losing to former IBF champion Caleb Plant 10 months ago.
As with past opponents like Maciej Sulecki and Steven Nelson, Pacheco is expected to use his 6ft 4ins frame, reach, and improving inside game to overwhelm McCumby. But the Glendale man is sturdy enough to push back and ask questions.
There was some criticism of Pacheco’s January performance against Nelson. Although he boxed with discipline and control, some felt he could have pushed harder for the stoppage.
“Steven Nelson, he was a great fighter,” Pacheco reflects. “Looking back at the fight, I think he did a lot of good things in there. I was able to adjust well… the game plan was to box him and obviously control the fight… but, of course, looking back on it, there’s some things I could have done a lot better.
“I’ve been working on those things… and coming into this fight, that’s what I’m looking forward to doing, to just stick to the game plan and dominate.”
In interviews, Pacheco comes across as polished and professional. But in McCumby, he sees an opportunity to show a little more edge.
“Trevor McCumby is a dangerous fighter. He attacks the punch, he’s a great puncher, but I feel like I’m levels ahead of him skill-wise… I combine my power with great skills and intelligent boxing. And that’s something that I feel he lacks and will make the difference on fight night.”
Pacheco’s name is now routinely mentioned alongside other top contenders hoping to dethrone Canelo, including Hamzah Sheeraz, Osleys Iglesias, and Christian Mbilli.
Sheeraz sparkled in his 168lb debut last weekend by knocking out Edgar Berlanga. Iglesias remains a dangerous, hard-hitting Cuban. And Mbilli – the WBC interim champion – has stormed through the division.
Maciej Sulecki connects the two men. Eleven months ago, Pacheco stopped him in six. Mbilli needed just one round last month.
“Mbilli’s a hell of a fighter,” Pacheco says. “We saw him just fight against Maciej Zulecki and go to work. I have a lot of respect for fighters like him who take on challenges and are ready to fight anybody. And I consider myself one of those fighters.”
The pair had been ordered to meet by the WBC earlier this year in a title eliminator, but Pacheco’s team pulled out and Mbilli claimed the belt by stopping Sulecki.
“There’s times where I ask for fights, and I have people, my promoter, people on my team who suggest other things… they feel like the terms or the things behind the fight that people don’t see aren’t matching with what’s ahead of us.
“I believe in my team. I know Eddie Hearn is one of the best in the business when it’s getting his fighters to world championship fights. I’m one of those guys who, regardless, I want tough fights.
“If that Mbilli fight wasn’t able to happen for X reasons, I made sure we picked the next toughest fight after that. And Trevor McCumby, I feel, is going to be a great fight. And I’m only 24 years old, so that Mbilli fight could happen next. Hopefully, before the end of the year.
“I’m excited for that and definitely willing to fight any of those guys in my division.”
