Irene Pacheco: The Trailblazing Colombian Boxing Champion
Irene “Mambaco” Pacheco is a Colombian former professional boxer who held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title from 1999 to 2004. He made six successful defenses before losing the championship to Vic Darchinyan.
Five years as IBF champion
Pacheco turned professional in 1993. On April 10, 1999, he stopped Luis Cox Coronado in the ninth round in Barranquilla to win the vacant IBF flyweight title. During his reign, Pacheco defended the belt six times, including victories over Masibulele Makepula, Mike Trejo, Alejandro Félix Montiel, and Damaen Kelly.
On December 16, 2004, Vic Darchinyan stopped Pacheco in the 11th round in Florida, ending his title reign. Pacheco returned to the ring and later moved up to bantamweight. He won the WBO Inter-Continental title in 2006 and challenged Jhonny González for the WBO world bantamweight championship on March 30, 2007. González stopped him in the ninth round.
Pacheco retired after the González fight. His final professional record was 33 wins, two losses, and no draws, with 24 wins by knockout. He remains one of Colombia’s notable world champions from the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Sources
Sources: BoxRec profile and record; BoxRec: IBF flyweight title fights; Caracol Radio, December 17, 2004; El Tiempo profile.
Tags
Boxing, Boxing History
