Diego Pacheco remained unbeaten at the top of a bill at Dignity Health Sports Park in California, as he scored a penultimate-round stoppage win against Immanuwel Aleem to defend his WBC Silver and WBO International super middleweight crowns.
At 25-years-old, Pacheco made a real statement stopping Aleem.
Pacheco (26-0, KO19) has been knocking on the door for world honours for some time, and he fought three times in 2025, going twelve frames each time, the last involving him having to get off the canvas to outpoint Kevin Lele Sadjo last December.
Aleem (22-5-3, KO14) looked a safe choice of opponent on paper, winning only one of his last three starts.
He was last seen in March, dropping a wide decision to Lester Martinez for the interim WBC world title.
Pacheco looked rejuvenated after linking up with new trainer Buddy McGirt, and he used his jab to good effect in the opening round, before landing well to the body of Aleem in round two.
Pacheco was using the jab in multiples, and landing with several power punches, and Aleem simply couldn’t get his own shots off, and by round five, Pacheco was doing as he pleased, combinations and body shots landing almost at will.
Jabs and body work were working to perfection for him, and he hurt Aleem in the seventh with a hard shot downstairs, cranking up the pressure with each passing round.
It was a clinic from Pacheco, and going into the championship rounds he was a mile ahead, a huge uppercut shaking Aleem up in round ten.
The writing was firmly on the wall, and Pacheco closed the show a round later, putting together a series of spiteful punches before a big right hand finally deposited Aleem to the canvas.
View this post on Instagram
Aleem bravely survived, but a combination of shots finally forced the referee to intervene, and put the seal on a great performance from Pacheco.
He promptly called out WBA world champion Jaime Munguia post-fight.
Andy Cruz vs Abraham Montoya
On the undercard, decorated amateur and Olympic gold medallist Andy Cruz (7-1, KO4) returned to winning ways after a losing bid for the IBF world title earlier this year, he was outpointed by Raymon Muratalla in January.
The lightweight decked Abraham Montoya (24-8-1, KO14) in round two of their clash, before securing a stoppage win a round later.
Remaining Undercard
Unbeaten featherweight prospect Albert Gonzalez (18-0, KO11) remained perfect, as he took the vacant NABF title with a second-round knockout of Aaron Lopez Alameda (31-4, KO18).
At lightweight, Bruno Rios Jr (9-0, KO7) took a competitive ten-round points win against Saul Sanchez (21-5-1, KO12).
Scores of 96-93 (twice) and 95-94 saw Rios complete the distance for the first time.
In six-rounders, Federico Pacheco Jr (11-0, KO8) stopped Nick Jones (9-6, KO6) in the second round of their heavyweight meeting, and British prospect Leo Atang (8-0, KO7) won early again, halting Glen Williams (2-2, KO1) in two rounds, also at heavyweight.
Middleweight novice Frank Espinoza (5-0, KO5) forced Luis Caraballo Ramos (8-9-1, KO8) to retire after three rounds of battle, and at lightweight, Samuel Contreras (8-0, KO3) took a clear points win against Jorge Alberto Ayala Lopez (2-3, KO0).
