Diego Pacheco Calls For Berlanga Fight, Believes He’s More Talented, Developed Than Edgar

Diego Pacheco is seeking to show his ceiling is far larger than fellow upstart Edgar Berlanga. 

Pacheco (19-0, 16 KOs) may have a shot to make his case on Saturday when he takes on Marcelo Esteban Coceres (32-5-1) on the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California to headline a Matchroom Boxing card on DAZN. 

The Argentinian veteran Coceres has been matched powerful ever since transitioning right into a 168-pound fighter in 2019 by difficult then-titleholder Billy Joe Saunders. 

Though Coceres suffered an Eleventh-round stoppage loss towards Saunders throughout his solely world title combat, he fought powerful and was up on one of many playing cards. 

In October 2021, Coceres fought to a 10-round unanimous determination loss towards Berlanga however dropped the Brooklyn-based boxer within the ninth spherical. All three judges scored the aggressive conflict 96-93.

After beginning his profession 15-0 with 15 first-round knockouts, the 26-year-old Berlanga has misplaced some sizzle from his ascending profession, preventing to 5 straight unanimous determination wins towards Jason Quigley, Roamer Alexis Angulo, Steve Rolls, Demond Nicholson, and Coceras. 

The 22-year-old five-year professional Pacheco already believes he’s higher than Berlanga (21-0, 16 KOs). 

“A hundred percent [my career and skills are more advanced and progressed and I have more all-around talent than Berlanga],” Pacheco advised BoxingScene.com in an interview. “I am not a fighter who simply depends on one sure factor. I can do the whole lot within the ring. I’ve lots of instruments in my toolbox. It is simply one thing that is in me.  

“I’ve advised my entire workforce that I’m prepared for the Berlanga combat. My workforce feels that I’m prepared. We requested for that combat already, so hopefully that combat comes by way of. Will probably be a extremely large combat to cement my identify within the 168-pound division as among the finest. I am searching for fights that I can show myself, and they’ll come. I’m with an ideal promoter in Matchroom who makes all these fights occur.”

A pitting between Pacheco and Berlanga could be doable if Eddie Hearn is inclined to make the combat. 

Berlanga has expressed greater plans during the last 12 months, nevertheless, calling for the likes of undisputed tremendous middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. 

As assured as Pacheco is that he’s higher than Berlanga, he insists that he’s not overlooking the rugged Coceres. 

“He is given world champions a run for his or her cash with nice fights. He gave Edgar Berlanga — a man individuals wish to see me matched up with — his hardest combat but,” mentioned Pacheco.

“I wish to go in there and present the distinction in ranges … and actually simply outclass Marcelo. My abilities and exhausting work would be the distinction. However lots of people assume it should be a troublesome combat [for me] due to the fights that he is been prior to now. However that is the place I get to indicate the place my degree is and the distinction in my abilities in comparison with who he is fought.” 

Manouk Akopyan is a sports activities journalist, author, and broadcast reporter. He’s additionally a member of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America and the MMA Journalists Affiliation. He could be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, by way of e-mail at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or through www.ManoukAkopyan.com.