Eddie Hearn goes all in on Diego Pacheco - It's now time for the fighter to do the same

Diego Pacheco will continue to be guided by Eddie Hearn after agreeing a long-term deal with the promoter who has pretty much overseen his entire career. 

A prospect for so long now, it’s easy to forget that Pacheco has been a professional for over eight years despite still being only 25 years old, but this next phase of his career, undoubtedly the most important, must be the one where he finally fulfils the potential that has long been promised. 

A key signing when Hearn began his American takeover in 2018, Pacheco was courted by all the sport’s leading promoters, and it was considered a marquee acquisition when the Matchroom boss persuaded the California native to put his career in his hands. 

An impressive amateur with a handsome look, Pacheco’s ability to appeal to the lucrative Hispanic market was noted by many, and with Hearn securing his signature, a genuine west coast draw in both his home state and Mexico looked guaranteed. 

'Diego will become a multi-weight world champion'

“I’m so pleased to sign one of the hottest young prospects in world boxing in Diego Pacheco,” said a gleeful Hearn when signing Pacheco eight years ago. “He has an incredible amateur pedigree and even at such a young age has all the attributes and tools to become a huge star in the sport. 

“We plan to bid him all over the world and let him progress at the right pace to mould him into an elite fighter. We have a proven track record in taking amateur stars to world titles and I truly believe Diego will become a multi-weight world champion.” 

So far, Pacheco looks way off completing Hearn’s prediction, but that’s not to say it won’t happen, and he certainly has time on his side.

Hearn was eager to be the man to continue pushing Pacheco towards the sport’s grandest prizes and speculation has been rife that Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing were also keen on adding him to their growing roster which demonstrates that those who know the sport inside out clearly see a major upside in the unbeaten star. 

On July 18, Pacheco will have his first fight of 2026 when he faces former WBC interim world title challenger, Immanuwel Aleem. The New Yorker was well beaten by Lester Martinez in March when going down on the scorecards, and the mission for Pacheco is to do a better job than Martinez and try and force a stoppage against Aleem. 

Melina Pizano/Matchroom

In his last three fights, Pacheco has gone the 12-round distance and his most recent encounter, a points victory over Kevin Sedjo last December, Pacheco was dropped in the eighth session. This can happen as the levels increase, but with Hearn putting all of his faith in Pacheco for the next few years at least, now is surely the time when it has to be repaid. 

Assessing the landscape at 168lbs, Pacheco should not be too far away from a world title fight after the belts recently became fragmented following the retirement of Terence Crawford, Hamzah Sheeraz, Osleys Iglesias, and Christian Mbilli have all become world champions in 2026, and there was a lengthy period when Pacheco was considered a far brighter talent than all the aforementioned fighters.

Pacheco vs. Canelo? 

Canelo Alvarez is back in September when he looks to relieve Mbilli of his WBC crown, and if Pacheco can move past Aleem in style next month then this will surely be one fight he will have a very keen eye on. 

It’s unknown whether Hearn and Pacheco believed that at this stage of the boxer’s career that he would be sitting atop the super-middleweight division. Boxing is a dangerous sport with threats around every corner, and although Pacheco has been able to pass every assignment thrown at him, the confidence in him maintaining that form may not be the same amongst fight fans. 

Hearn is different. He has seen something in Pacheco since day one and every time their deal has expired, he has been desperate to get a new one in place which suggests he’s all in on the man who can still be king.  

The next 18 months to two years could see Pacheco go in with the names mentioned earlier and if can somehow emerge with world titles and his unbeaten record still very much intact, Hearn’s justification in tying Pacheco down could be his brightest move yet. 

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