Tremendous middleweight contenders Christian Mbilli and Diego Pacheco are in negotiations for a battle that can put the winner in a stronger place to drive a struggle towards unified champion Canelo Alvarez.
Forcing the Problem
The Mexican star Canelo has persistently ignored Pacheco (28-0, 23 KOs) and Mbilli (23-0, 18 KOs). Alvarez has chosen to take simpler fights towards Edgar Berlanga and Jaime Munguia.
Lance Pugmire experiences that Mbilli and Pacheco are in talks to place collectively a struggle subsequent. There’s no phrase but when, the place, and what shall be at stake for the struggle. Ideally, one in every of Canelo’s titles shall be vacated or stripped from him and made accessible for the struggle.
2016 Olympian Mbilli is ranked #1 WBA, #1 WBC, #2 WBO and #3 IBF. He has latest wins over Sergiy Derevyanchenko, Mark Heffron and Rohan Murdock. Mbilli has appeared wonderful in these fights. Nevertheless, it’s tough to understand how good he’s as a result of he’s but to face somebody with actual expertise.
He not too long ago acquired criticism for not taking a struggle towards unbeaten Cuban expertise Olsleys Iglesias (13-0, 12 KOs), who is perhaps one of the best contender within the 168-pound division, even perhaps higher than Canelo. You possibly can’t blame Mbilli for not combating Iglesias as a result of that may be a nasty matchup for him.
The Matchroom Boxing-promoted Pacheco is ranked #1 WBO, and appears laborious to beat. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, hasn’t pushed laborious but for him to problem Canelo attributable to his age. The tall 6’4″ Pacheco is simply 23, and he’s nonetheless getting expertise that he must be prepared for the highest abilities within the division.
Pacheco appeared excellent in his final bout, defeating beforehand unbeaten Steven Nelson by a 12 spherical unanimous choice on January twenty fifth.
Hearn should like Pacheco’s possibilities for him to be negotiating for a struggle towards Mbilli. The issues that Mbilli had in his latest struggle towards 39-year-old Derevyanchenko on August seventeenth final yr are doubtless what’s making Hearn really feel assured sufficient to let Diego take this struggle.
