Diego Pacheco’s push to become a world champion renews with an alliance with a former world-champion fighter as his new trainer.
BoxingScene has learned International Boxing Hall of Fame member Buddy McGirt has been brought on as head cornerman for South Central Los Angeles’ Pacheco 25-0 (18 KOs), a 25-year-old super-middleweight ranked in the top 10 by all four sanctioning bodies.
McGirt has previously trained recently unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, former light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev and, before that, Arturo Gatti and Paulie Malignaggi.
Pacheco earlier this year signed with Sheer Sports after parting with trainer Jose Benavidez Snr.
Coming off a lackluster victory in December over Kevin Lele Sadjo 28-1 (25 KOs) in which Pacheco was knocked down in the eighth round, the 6-feet-4 Pacheco remains tied to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
Ranked No. 2 in the WBC under champion Christian Mbilli, interim champion Lester Martinez and No. 1-ranked former undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez, Pacheco is No. 6 in the IBF to new champion Osleys Iglesias, No. 5 in the WBO, where Hamzah Sheeraz will fight for the belt next month, and No. 8 in the WBA.
Armando Resendiz defends the WBA belt May 2 versus former 154lbs champion Jaime Munguia.
Pacheco is in line to fight again in the summer.
