Eddie Hearn Admits Pressure Is On Diego Pacheco

“We’ve hyped him up,” Hearn said during the final press conference on Thursday. “He’s got to that spot now. He’s kind of reversed a little bit. He’s got the new deal with Matchroom and a multi-fight deal. He’s on big money. He’s got Buddy McGirt. We’re all positioning him as the guy that’s going to go on over the next five or six years and be in big fights at 168. So, you get beat, or you struggle, and it’s a bit of a disaster.”

Hearn’s comments reflect how much has changed for Pacheco. Earlier this year, he passed on a potential title opportunity against Hamzah Sheeraz, choosing instead to spend more time working with Hall of Fame trainer Buddy McGirt. Matchroom also rewarded him with a new long-term promotional agreement, making him one of the company’s cornerstone fighters.

That investment has only increased the scrutiny surrounding every performance. Pacheco has gone to the scorecards in each of his last three fights after opening his career with a long string of knockouts, leading some observers to question whether he can still produce the emphatic victories expected of an elite contender.

Hearn believes Aleem represents another dangerous test despite entering as the underdog.

“When these guys have got nothing to lose, they’re dangerous,” Hearn said. “They look at Pacheco, and they think, ‘I take this scalp, the next one is five times as much money.’ So, let’s go.”

A convincing win would move Pacheco another step closer to the championship fights he has been targeting. A lackluster performance, however, would almost certainly fuel more questions about whether he is ready to challenge the division’s elite.