I have sparred Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez but no-one hit me harder than undefeated rising star

26/08/2024 16:43

Diego Pacheco has sparred the best of the best but none have had more power than his hard-hitting sibling.

Pacheco has emerged as one of the brightest talents at 168lbs, which has seen him expand his portfolio of sparring, sharing rounds with current champion Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez.

The talented pair certainly pack a punch, but Pacheco has looked closer to home when naming the most power he’s felt in training rounds.

He told talkSPORT.com: “The toughest sparring it is hard, because every fighter is different and every sparring session is different.

“But if I were to say power-wise I’d say my little brother [Federico Pacheco]. Obviously he’s a heavyweight but he’s really strong and hits really hard.

“If I were to say skill wise, I would say David Benavidez. He is very skillful and has great defence.”

On his sparring with Alvarez, Pacheco claimed it wasn’t quite what it seemed when the pair touched gloves.

He added: “The time I sparred Canelo, I felt like when he was getting in there with me he was doing mainly defence.

“I don’t know if it was because he couldn’t figure me out, or I was like 18 at the time so maybe he didn’t want to hit me.

“So it wasn’t as competitive as my sessions with David, because he wasn’t doing as much offensively with me.”

His sibling and undefeated heavyweight, Federico Pacheco, is making waves alongside him in the squared circle.

The hard-hitting star has a record of seven wins without defeat [5 KOs] and is just 20 years old so is looking to rise up the ranks alongside his brother.

The more experience Pacheco has used his experiences from Alvarez and Benavidez spars to help him continue to develop on his mercurial skill set and boundless talent.

The undefeated star has put together a streak of 21 wins since turning professional and is looking to push on towards a title shot against Alvarez.

And despite feelings of respect for the pound-for-pound superstar, the 23-year-old would back himself to get the job done now and dethrone his potential rival.

“It would obviously be a dream come true as Canelo is the king in the boxing world at the moment and has been for a few years,” he continued.

“I have got to spar with him, be on his undercard and be around him and he has seen me fight.

“Obviously it would also be a dream come true to share the ring with him especially for a world title and ultimately that is the goal.

“That’s where I am trying to get to and if it was just up to me, I feel like I am ready for any of those guys in the top ten at 168lbs.

“I consider myself one of the best and that is what it takes to be about greatness and learn from them.”

It is an interesting position to be in for Pacheco, with Alvarez and Benavidez having been bitter rivals for several years.

Benavidez has forever wanted the opportunity to meet Alvarez, but it has yet to come to fruition with the champion demanding a fight purse of $200 million.

Pacheco will be hoping not to fall to the same fate in his pursuit of the modern-era great.