Matchroom Boxing has once again withdrawn Diego Pacheco from an ordered fight with Christian Mbilli, leaving Mbilli searching for a new opponent on the eve of a WBC purse bid. The two super middleweights were in line for a bout to determine the WBC interim champion, with the winner set to become the mandatory challenger to undisputed champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. However, Matchroom’s eleventh-hour decision halted the negotiations without a deal in place.
This marks the second time a potential Mbilli-Pacheco clash has fallen through. An IBF eliminator between the same fighters also went as far as a purse bid last November before Pacheco was pulled out in favor of a scheduled bout with Steven Nelson, which he won by unanimous decision. Pacheco currently holds the top spot in the WBO rankings at 168 pounds and is believed to be lining up a summer DAZN headliner against a yet-to-be-named opponent, possibly Trevor McCumby.
Watch Mbilli vs. Derevyanchenko highlights: Watch
Cameroonian-born Frenchman Mbilli occupies high ranking positions across the WBA, WBC, and WBO. Despite his credentials, the 29-year-old has experienced a string of collapsed negotiations, having also withdrawn from an ordered IBF eliminator with Kevin Lele Sadjo. As a result, Mbilli has not fought since August 2024, when he outpointed former title challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko.
With Canelo Alvarez focused on his May showdown against IBF titleholder William Scull in Riyadh and a subsequent September date with Terence Crawford, Mbilli remains shut out of the near-term title picture.
Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing