Teddy Atlas, a respected trainer turned analyst, has raised eyebrows by calling Diego Pacheco a "nightmare" matchup for Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. Atlas shared his thoughts after Pacheco's recent stoppage win over Maciej Sulecki.
Canelo, the 34-year-old Mexican superstar, has built an impressive career with 65 fights under his belt. He's known for his counterpunching skills and power, having achieved great things in the sport. But Atlas thinks the current super-middleweight champion might struggle against the young contender.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Atlas explained why he sees Pacheco as a tough challenge for Canelo:
"You can't counter a guy that's as tall and long as Pacheco and knows how to use that length. There's nothing to counter. You're gonna shadow box all night."
Atlas pointed out that Canelo's aging legs make it harder for him to close the gap against taller opponents. At 23, Pacheco stands at 6'4" with a reach Atlas described as "a jab as long as a phone pole." The young fighter's height, length, and ability to use these advantages effectively could nullify Canelo's renowned counterpunching skills.
Despite seeing Pacheco as a serious threat, Atlas doesn't think the fight will happen. He believes Canelo will avoid this matchup due to the style mismatch at this point in his career. Atlas noted that Canelo's status as boxing's "golden goose" allows him to be selective with his opponents.
Canelo recently got stripped of one of his super-middleweight world titles for not facing a mandatory challenger. He responded defiantly:
"I'm not gonna do whatever they want. I'm gonna do whatever I want. Because I deserve it, because of all I have done."
While Atlas thinks Pacheco could use one more fight before facing Canelo, he cautioned against risking the mandatory challenger position. As for Canelo, he's set to face Edgar Berlanga on September 14.
Atlas concluded with a broader view on boxing legacies: "If you want to be the greatest you should fight everybody." It remains to be seen if Canelo will take on this rising challenge in Pacheco or continue to leverage his power in the sport to choose his fights carefully.
