Diego Pacheco looks to close in on a maiden world title shot when he clashes with Immanuwel Aleem in California on Saturday.
Pacheco (25-0, 18 KOs) puts his WBC Silver and WBO International super middleweight titles on the line against Aleem (22-4-3, 14 KOs) at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, live on DAZN.
The 25-year-old has a lofty ranking of three with the WBO and four with the WBC behind champions Hamzah Sheeraz and Christian Mbilli respectively.
The Los Angeles man faced adversity in his last bout, climbing off the canvas to defeat Kevin Lele Sadjo in December and take his professional record to 25 straight victories.
Aleem challenged for the WBC interim super middleweight title in his last outing, routed by Lester Martinez on the cards in March.
It was a fourth defeat for the 32-year-old New Yorker, who could get himself straight back into contention if he were to hand Pacheco a first defeat.
Prediction: Aleem is a tough contender and Pacheco may have to settle for a decision victory.
Cruz clashes with Montoya
Andy Cruz looks to get back in the win column after falling short in his first world title tilt in January.
Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs) was edged out by Raymond Muratalla in a bid for the IBF lightweight crown.
The Cuban was preparing to get straight back to a world title shot, but saw his IBF final eliminator with Albert Bell pulled, who went onto unsuccessfully challenge Abdullah Mason for his WBO crown earlier this month.
Instead the 2020 Olympic gold medalist will meet Mexico’s Abraham Montoya (24-7-1, 14 KOs).
Prediction: Cruz can return to winning ways with a points victory.
Remaining Undercard
Highly-rated featherweight, Albert Gonzalez (17-0, 10 KOs) can become the first man to stop Aaron Lopez Alameda (31-3, 18 KOs).
Exciting middleweight prospect, Frank Espinoza (4-0, 4 KOs) has looked flawless so far and can maintain his perfect record with a knockout of Luis Caraballo Ramos (8-8-1, 5 KOs).
British heavyweight prospect, Leo Atang (7-0, 6 KOs) makes his stateside debut and he should dispatch of Glen Williams (2-1, 1 KO) before the end of their six-round contest.
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Former world title challenger, Saul Sanchez (21-4-1, 12 KOs) was held to a draw in his last bout and he will likely suffer a points defeat to rising prospect, Bruno Rios Jr (8-0, 7 KOs) at bantamweight.
Pacheco’s younger brother, Federico Pacheco Jr (10-0, 7 KOs) should also score a stoppage victory in his heavyweight clash with Nick Jones (9-5, 6 KOs).
Lightweight Samuel Conteras (7-0, 3 KOs) can halt Jorge Alberto Ayala Lopez (2-2) before the end of their six-round lightweight bout.
