Last weekend’s boxing affair saw a potential new top super middleweight contender rise in Diego Pacheco following his win over Polish contender Maciej Sulecki. The two headlined a Matchroom card at the Dignity Sports Health Center in Carson, California, on August 31st.
Diego Pacheco (22-0, 18 KO’s) was not regarded as a top contender prior to his bout against Maciej Sulecki (32-3, 12 KO’s), but may have drawn the attention of those at the top following his August 31st fight.
Both super middleweight (168 lbs) contenders entered the ring as active competitors, as they had both fought several months earlier at around the same time, but Pacheco was still regarded as the favorite due to his unbeaten record and recent form―having netted 4 KO’s in five fights since 2023.
Demonstrating a lethal jab, Pacheco won the majority of the rounds through patience and determination, finding Sulecki to be a tough and even difficult fighter as he came forward to pressure the American early. Through the aforementioned, Pacheco managed to retain control of the ring as well as enable himself to come through with well-timed counter blows and attacks.
The bodywork that Pacheco often sneaked through throughout the rounds proved to be even more pivotal by the 6th round when a left hand to the body, roughly a minute into the match, dropped Sulecki. It was a devastating shot that put the Polish fighter on the floor for minutes after, even after he was counted out and the bout was ruled a knockout victory for Diego Pacheco. Pacheco also retained his WBC USA and WBO International 168 lbs titles in the process.
Following the match, Pacheco and his promoter, Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn, were asked on the fighter’s near future with Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KO’s). With it being confirmed that Pacheco was the #1 WBO super middleweight contender and the mandatory contender to the same title, Pacheco may become Alvarez’ next opponent if Alvarez makes it past Edgar Berlanga (22-0, 17 KO’s) come September 14th.
During his in-ring interview following his fight, Diego Pacheco stated his interest to fight any of the top 10 168-pounders in absence of a potential Canelo Alvarez fight.
“[If not Canelo Alvarez, I would want] anybody in the top 10. Eddie [Hearn], Matchroom, brought a few names to the table―I said yes to all of them. I never back down from any fight.”
In a division that has recently seen two top 10 contenders in David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KO’s) and David Morrell (11-0, 9 KO’s) depart to the light-heavyweight (175 lbs) division, the 168 lbs landscape seems heavily in need of new names to rise up and claim a position in the top, which would breed interest towards any of the top 10 fighters battling each other for a title or similar types of recognition.
However, Hearn further plead Pacheco’s case for being ready for a title shot already by painting him as the next likely contender for Canelo Alvarez’ three remaining world titles―provided he had another fight in the interim to truly steam him ready for such an opportunity.
“By the time the mandatory shot comes around [for Pacheco] against Canelo Alvarez or Edgar Berlanga, Diego Pacheco against either of them is going to be a massive fight. He is going to be the mandatory to the winner of Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga. But we need another fight, we need a fight in-between. The fight I would love to make is Diego Pacheco versus Jaime Munguia. I think that’s a brilliant fight. I think that’s a great fight. I believe we win that fight all day long.”
Hearn also namedropped Canadian contender Erik Bazinyan (32-0-1, 23 KO’s) and French contender Christian M’billi (28-0, 23 KO’s) as potential next opponents for Pacheco, alongside Mexican contender and former world champion Jaime Munguia (43-1, 34 KO’s)―all fighters whom are considered to be top 10 super middleweight fighters.
If Pacheco would be able to arrange a fight with any of them and come through with a victory, it would cement his place as a top contender and likely make him the most prominent candidate, and further ensure he would receive an opportunity out of merit as opposed to the likes of Berlanga who had not fought any top 10 fighter before being granted the chance to face former undisputed 168 lbs champion Canelo Alvarez.
Undercard results:
- A relative upset occurred in the women’s super flyweight (115 lbs) division as American contender Adelaida Ruiz (16-1-1, 8 KO’s) lost by split-decision to the less experienced fellow countrywoman Virginia “Ginny” Fuchs (4-0, 1 KO’s). Fuchs gained the WBC interim 115 lbs title that was somehow still held by Ruiz despite her having not defended the title since 2022.
- Rising British cruiserweight (200 lbs) contender Cheavon Clarke (10-0, 7 KO’s) had an enduring battle against Nigerian contender Efetobor Apochi (12-3, 12 KO’s) and won by a hairbreadth through a split-decision win over the course of 10 rounds.
