Diego Pacheco has inched toward a massive Canelo Alvarez payday without taking the fights that would prove he earned it. His ascent to the WBC No. 1 spot at super middleweight comes after he passed on opportunities against Christian Mbilli and Hamzah Sheeraz.
The WBC confirmed the ranking during its annual convention, per EverythingBoxing. Because Lester Martinez still holds the interim title, Pacheco’s top spot does not make him Canelo’s immediate mandatory challenger or secure the next championship crack. Instead, he meets Darius Fulghum on Saturday, November 14, in Carson, California.
That reality forces a hard question on the sanctioning body: what has Pacheco done against prime opposition to merit the highest numeric spot?
His resume features victories over Steven Nelson, Trevor McCumby, and Kevin Lele Sadjo. None of those names proves he belongs above the division’s true elite. Sadjo even scored a knockdown before dropping the decision. Pacheco has stacked up wins, yet he has bypassed the tests that would reveal his actual ceiling.
The Mbilli episode stands out because the sanctioning body was directly involved. After turning away from an IBF final eliminator to fight Nelson, Pacheco’s side pulled out of a WBC interim title matchup against Mbilli in 2025. Two distinct paths toward an elite opponent evaporated before he ever stepped through the ropes.
Pacheco justified that second move through business logic. He argued the money didn’t warrant heading to Quebec and taking a smaller financial split for a hometown draw.
“Honestly, the purse wasn’t that great,” Pacheco told The Ring.
Boxers have every right to reject offers that undervalue them. Sanctioning bodies, however, must evaluate real in-ring achievements. Turning away from a formidable foe may preserve a fighter’s bankroll, but it does not prove he could win the fight.
The missed clash with Sheeraz is tougher to excuse as routine positioning. That matchup was ordered for the vacant WBO world championship, offering Pacheco a direct shot at a legitimate belt. He walked away in January after talks entered purse bids.
Legitimate backstory accompanied the withdrawal. Eddie Hearn pointed to coaching and managerial friction, while Pacheco stated he felt unsettled with his camp. Those reasons carry weight, but declining a world title bout does not count as a victory.
Fulghum now arrives with a chance to wreck the design. Pacheco defends his WBC Silver strap at Dignity Health Sports Park, carrying extra risk thanks to his new position. A loss would shatter his argument for a Canelo date before he has even tested himself against a top-tier contender.
Martinez holding the interim belt also clouds the pathway. The WBC boosted Pacheco up the ladder while another fighter sits on the secondary championship.
Pacheco can validate his position by handling Fulghum and signing to fight a premier super middleweight next. For now, the top spot credits him for potential while overlooking the caliber of fighters he has actually shared the ring with.
WBC ordering Pacheco against Lester Martinez would force total clarity on the 168-pound picture. Either Pacheco proves he can handle an aggressive, heavy-handed puncher who can back him up, or Lester eliminates him and removes any lingering question about who deserves Canelo.
The sanctioning body will never mandate it, though. By giving Pacheco the No. 1 ranking while Lester holds the interim belt, Mauricio Sulaiman gives himself maximum room to maneuver. If Canelo decides he wants a clean, recognizable name with a major promoter behind him, they can trot out Pacheco. If Canelo prefers a mandatory with a regional belt to check a box, they have Lester.
If you looked at Christian Mbilli and decided the purse wasn’t worth the beating, and you backed out of a WBO world title shot against Hamzah Sheeraz during purse bids, Lester is the last guy you’re volunteering to fight.
Lester is high risk with zero casual crossover. He works behind heavy pressure, punches with power, and does not give you room to breathe. Kevin Lele Sadjo gave Pacheco absolute fits just by winging shots on the inside and dropping him. Lester brings that same kind of heavy, physical pressure, except he is bigger and hits harder.
Matchroom is not about to put Pacheco in with an avoided, heavy-handed Guatemalan who brings no pay-per-view juice when they can just feed him fighters like Darius Fulghum, sit on that No. 1 ranking, and pray Canelo calls their number before someone forces Pacheco to take a real test.