DIEGO Pacheco will have one eye on the outcome of Friday night’s main event in New York between Edgar Berlanga and Hamzah Sheeraz.
The three super-middleweights are in a queue of contenders at 168lbs sat behind top dog Canelo Alvarez. On September 13 the Mexican defends all four world titles against multi-weight world champion Terence Crawford. And Pacheco, Berlanga or Sheeraz could face Canelo should he overcome the American at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Beforehand, Pacheco, 23-0 (18 KOs), must overcome Trevor McCumby, 28-1 (20 KOs), on July 19 do retain his WBO mandatory position.
A matchup between Pacheco and Berlanga has been floated in the past by promoter Eddie Hearn. While trainer Jose Benavidez Sr told Boxing News in May that a fight against Berlanga could form one part of a “perfect year” for Pacheco.
“Hopefully we could [face Christian Mbilli] next, after we fight Trevor McCumby.
“Then we could fight Munguia – that would be a great fight – and then we can fight Berlanga. That would be a perfect year for Diego Pacheco – to fight those three guys.”
Speaking to BN this week Pacheco said he has no preference over who wins this week’s fight in at the Louis Armstrong Stadium but seemed certain of the the outcome.
“That’s a great fight, man. Both guys have great skills, great power,” the 24-year-old said.
“I think Berlanga gets the knockout. Something is telling me Berlanga knocks him out. But Sheeraz is a great fighter as well. He’s got great fundamentals. He’s got a great jab. So, it’s going to be a great fight. I definitely would love to fight both of them in the future.”
