Estephan is in a tough spot. Iglesias has struggled to get traction with top fighters and has largely been ignored at the weight. Finding a recognizable name willing to fight him hasn’t been easy.
Estephan wanted Lester Martinez first and didn’t get him, which is why Pacheco’s name is now being mentioned. He’s ranked, unbeaten, and coming off a win over Sadjo, making him an easy name to throw out once the first option fell apart.
The timing also works against this fight going anywhere. Pacheco now has better options opening up, with Riyadh Season showing interest in matching him against Hamzah Sheeraz. That’s bigger money and a bigger platform, and once that door opens, fights like Iglesias tend to fall off the table fast.
Hearn’s Preferred Direction
Eddie Hearn has already pointed in a different direction, naming Jaime Munguia as the opponent he’d prefer next for Pacheco. Munguia is well known to U.S. fans, has been on television for years, and has shown vulnerability, losing two of his last four fights since 2024. From a business standpoint, that’s a cleaner move for Pacheco.
An Iglesias fight brings more risk than he’s worth. He holds the IBO belt and just stopped Vladimir Shishikin in an IBF eliminator, which made him the mandatory for Terence Crawford’s IBF title. Crawford isn’t expected to fight him, and there’s no reason for Pacheco to go anywhere near that.
Money Changes Everything
Estephan can criticize how Pacheco looked against Sadjo all he wants, but this sounds like a promoter looking for someone to fight his guy. If the money isn’t huge, it’s not happening.
“Maybe Pacheco? Lester Martinez declared himself unavailable… I know Pacheco just squeezed by Sadjo, and it was ugly, but do you want to see Iglesias vs. Pacheco?” said Estephan on X.
It comes off as Iglesias needing someone to fight, not Pacheco needing to prove anything, which is why this matchup feels unlikely to move beyond a social media suggestion.
Bob Smith has been a contributor to Boxing News 24 since 2008, making him one of the publication’s longest-serving writers. With well over a decade of experience covering the international boxing landscape, he has established himself as a senior voice known for accuracy, consistency, and clear event reporting. Smith’s work spans global fight coverage, championship developments, and analysis informed by years of following the sport at the highest level, providing readers with dependable insight into boxing’s most important stories.