Diego Pacheco believes his promoter has an appealing in-house match-up on his hands.

Pachecho, the highly regarded 22-year-old super middleweight prospect from Los Angeles, boosted his appeal last month with a dominant stoppage over veteran Jack Cullen at Echo Arena in Liverpool.

After the fight, Pacheco was asked about a potential fight with fellow 168-pounder Edgar Berlanga, who, like Pacheco, is signed to Matchroom Boxing, the British promotional company headed by Eddie Hearn.  

Pacheco offered an enthusiastic endorsement of that potential match-up.

“Yeah, I think in a few [fights the Berlanga fight will happen],” Pacheco told SecondsOut.com. “He’s a great fighter, I’m a great fighter. As long as everyone wants to see that fight and everyone asks for that fight, I don’t see why that shouldn’t happen.

“He’s with Matchroom now. So there’s no reason why that shouldn’t happen. We’re both some of the best young fighters. Let’s give the fight fans an amazing fight.”

Berlanga, 25, parted ways with his longtime promoter Top Rank earlier this year and subsequently signed with Hearn after fielding various offers, including ones from Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy and Al Haymon of Premier Boxing Champions.

One reason why Berlanga signed with Hearn appears to be because of a potential fight with Canelo Alvarez, the current undisputed champion at 168. But in order to earn that opportunity, Hearn has said Berlanga would need to rack up a few wins over top opposition. The New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent has failed to look impressive in his last few fights after stopping his first 16 opponents inside the first round.

Pacheco signed with Matchroom straight out of the amateurs, when he was only 17. With the win over Cullen, the youngster believes the appellation “prospect” no longer applies to him.

“I needed a performance like this to convince people that I wasn’t a prospect anymore and that I can compete with the best,” Pacheco said. “Hopefully everyone else sees it as well. …I just turned 22. I feel like a lot of people call me a prospect because I’m so young but, you know, with this performance, like Eddie said, I feel like I’m a contender now. I could compete with anyone. I’m ready and excited for the future.” 

Super middleweight Diego Pacheco 17-0 (14) is looking to move from hot prospect to contender with a victory over Jack ‘Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver’ Cullen 21-3-1 (9) at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Saturday night.

The 22-year-old from Los Angeles is already ranked number nine by the WBO at 168-pounds and will be contesting the vacant WBO International title over 10 rounds against Cullen.

“Jack Cullen I feel is a good opponent, finally someone that the fans know I guess,” said Pacheco. “If I beat him then it’s going to be like, ‘he beat this guy’, and I hope people are going to start believing in me a little bit more.

“After I get this win, I do feel that people will start recognising me more as a contender than a prospect. He’s tall and he has a lot of heart, but I’m a way better fighter than him. I see myself stopping him. He won’t be able to take my power. Once I see the opening, I’ll take it.

“I think this fight is really important for my career. It’s really important that I put on a good performance. I wanna knock him out, I wanna stop him. In whatever round it comes in, whether it’s a body shot or a head shot, I just wanna to stop him.”

The 29-year-old Cullen, who hails from the village of Little Lever in Lancashire, is not going to lie down easily.

“I put everything into this training camp. I’ve left no stone unturned. I’ve done everything right and you’ll see on fight night,” Cullen said.

“I have plenty of experience, big bollocks and I want to fight. I’ve put everything into my training. This is my life and I want to keep this going. Stick to the game plan and we’ll get him out of there.”

Pacheco trains in Seattle under the guidance of Jose Benavidez Sr who is training his son undefeated David Benavidez 26-0 (23) for a March 25 clash with former IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant 22-1 (13).

“I’ve been part of David Benavidez’ last five fights,” Pacheco said. “Every camp here is really tough. It’s good work, it doesn’t get better than this.

“The first time I ever came down here, David reached out to me on the DMs. It was after my Saudi Arabia fight. He was like, ‘oh I was watching that, you’re really good, do you wanna come down and work with me?’ I was like ‘hell yeah’.

“That’s what has gotten me the great wins, the great knockouts – the preparation I’ve been doing. That’s the reason I’m here working with them. There are other great sparring partners in here as well and I’m preparing better than ever for this fight. The sparring doesn’t get better than this so I’m really thankful for that.

“Obviously it is really tough, David Benavidez is a really good fighter. Every time I’m in there with him I learn something new. He pushes me more than anyone else. That’s exactly what I need.”

DIEGO PACHECO surged to an explosive victory on his UK debut dismantling Jack Cullen  then stopping him inside four rounds.

The Californian stepped into the main event slot at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool after an injury to hometown favorite Callum Smith prevented him from fighting on this bill.

And Pacheco lived up to the top billing with the impressive performance which moves him to 18-0, with Cullen becoming the 15th opponent vanquished inside the distance.

Cullen had started reasonably well, landing a few stiff jabs in the opening round but you got the sense that Pacheco was taking his time to have a good look at ‘Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver’.

Pacheco, still just 22 years old, started to go through the gears in the second round and was working well on the counter and dictating the distance with his feet.

He turned up the heat further in the third and two right uppercuts which landed flush were a sign of things to come from Pacheco, who was clearly now finding his range. And so it proved in the fourth when he landed a right hand on Cullen’s neck and then dropped him with the follow-up left hook to the body.

Cullen got to his feet but the writing was on the wall. Pacheco landed a double jab and then two thunderous right hands which left Cullen crumpled against the ropes and there was still time for a left hook on his way down as Steve Gray jumped in to stop the fight. The official time was 0:47 of round four.

Pacheco said: “I’m really happy with my performance. It was my job to deliver and I think I did that tonight.

“I felt the same as every fight. My job is to put on a great performance every time I step into the ring – it doesn’t matter where I am.

“He was really tough. I respect him for getting up but I knew I was going to take him out in that round, I wasn’t letting him get away from that.”

“I feel ready for anyone in my division and anybody in boxing. I’m super excited for the future and I’m ready for whatever is next.”

His promoter Eddie Hearn added: “After this we will continue to headline all over the world, particularly LA. 

“Tonight we lose one word: ‘prospect’ is gone. World-class star and a future world champion – that’s what Diego is.

“That was precise punching, hard punching, body punching. It was calmness in the ring. 

“At 17 he would hardly look at you but now he’s like a young lion. This is the future for Pacheco now, he’s still 22 but I think we’re very lucky to have him.”

Unbeaten super middleweight Diego Pacheco (18-0, 15 KOs) brutally stopped “Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Jack Cullen (21-4-1, 9 KOs) in round four on

Pacheco, Cullen Final Press Conference Photos Gallery – After an injury forced Callum Smith out of his Light-Heavyweight clash with Pawel Stepien at the M&S Ban…

Super middleweights Diego Pacheco and “Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Jack Cullen faced off at the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s action at

Pacheco ready for spotlight

After an injury forced Callum Smith out of his light heavyweight clash with Pawel Stepien at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool on Saturday, Los Angeles’ Diego Pacheco’s WBO International super middleweight title showdown with Jack Cullen and Robbie Davies Jr’s super lightweight fight with Darragh Foley are now co-headlining. DAZN will stream.

The unbeaten Pacheco (17-0, 14 KOs) looks to impress in his first appearance in the UK, stepping up against “Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver” Cullen (21-3-1, 9 KOs) in what promises to be an all-action affair.

“Jack Cullen I feel is a good opponent, finally someone that the fans know I guess,” said Pacheco. “If I beat him then it’s going to be like, ‘he beat this guy’, and I hope people are going to start believing in me a little bit more.

“After I get this win, I do feel that people will start recognising me more as a contender than a prospect. He’s tall and he has a lot of heart, but I’m a way better fighter than him. I see myself stopping him. He won’t be able to take my power. Once I see the opening, I’ll take it.”

Davies Jr (23-3, 15 KOs) was set to square off with world-rated Liam Paro, but will now face late stand-in Foley (21-4-1, 9 KOs) over ten rounds

Also, unbeaten heavyweight Johnny Fisher (7-0, 6 KOs) faces Alfonso Damiani (6-2, 2 KOs) in a scheduled eight-rounder.

Hard to say I think they are trying to get Berlanga to Canelo. Berlanga has everything in looks, charisma, and fan base to be in a big fight. I might be wrong but I think there is one problem….he is not good enough. Hearn may view Pacheco as too risky. Problem is …how do they get him there? I am interested to see what Hearn tries to do.

I know they have that in mind, but they’re going to have to put Berlanga in with some very strong competition to make it an interesting fight against Canelo and he’s going to have to look good. I know they’re talking about Daniel Jacobs, but after that??? Munguia? I think Munguia beats Berlanga and if the Jacobs who fought Ryder fights the Berlanga who fought Angulo – I’d take Jacobs too.

Pacheco vs Cullen Card: Pacheco, Foley & Fisher Get Big Stoppages!

Diego Pacheco vs Jack Cullen: Card Recap

Diego Pacheco Runs Over Cullen; Foley And Fisher Win Undercard Stoppages

Super middleweight prospect Diego Pacheco (18-0, 15KO) remains undefeated after beating down veteran Jack Cullen (21-4-1, 9KO). Pacheco showed tremendous patience working behind the jab and occasionally launched flurries against the stationary Cullen. In round four, the young lion landed a punishing hook to the body that folded Cullen like a lawn chair. The veteran fighter got back up, but Pacheco exploded with two savage right hands that dropped Cullen, prompting the referee to wave off the fight. The young Mexican walked away with the WBO International title, and this victory could see him bumped into the top 15 rankings.

DARRAGH FOLEY SCORES SECOND ROUND STOPPAGE OVER ROBBIE DAVIES JR

In a junior welterweight showdown, Darragh Foley (22-4-1, 10KO) scored a quick stoppage over Robbie Davies Jr (23-4, 15KO). Davis came out landing the straight right hand, and did a good job of controlling the pace early. In round two, Foley exploded out of nowhere with a brutal right hand that dropped Davies, who narrowly beat the count. In round three, Davies went down from a jab but injured the right ankle and couldn’t finish. Davies’ corner immediately threw in the towel. Both fighters viewed this as a must-win situation, with Foley finally scoring a victory in the United Kingdom on the fourth attempt.

JOHN FISHER DOMINATES ALFONZO DAMIANI

Heavyweight prospect Johnny Fisher (8-0, 7KO) blasted through Alfonzo Damiani in four quick rounds. The popular British heavyweight fought well behind the jab off the front foot, forcing Damiani into ropes. He quickly found a home for that right hand and went to the body early to slow down his opponent’s movement. In round four, Fisher turned it on by landing bombs as Damiani was against the ropes following a left and right hook combination. The referee jumped in to stop the fight as the crowd cheered for the hometown fighter. During the post-fight interview, Fisher admitted it was time to step up the competition.

Diego Pacheco, a rising star in the super middleweight division, remained unbeaten after defeating Jack Cullen in the fourth round of their fight.