With Callum Smith ruled out of his proposed fight this weekend due to injury, hot US prospect Diego Pacheco is elevated into main event status, as he meets Jack Cullen for the vacant WBO International super middleweight title at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
DAZN televise live, and Matchroom promote. Pacheco vs Cullen is set for ten rounds.
Pacheco (17-0, 14 KOs) is highly touted having captured eight national championships as an amateur, and at 22-years-old, and of Mexican heritage, it’s easy to see comparisons with several other Mexican-American stars.
Since an eight round decision win in February 2021, the Los Angeles man is on a six-fight knockout streak, picking up the WBC United States title along the way, and he was last out in December, stopping Ricardo Adrian Luna in two rounds.
Cullen (21-3-1, 9 KOs) is a respected domestic fighter, but has been halted in all of his three losses, the last a crushing sixth round defeat for the European title against Kevin Sadjo in December 2021.
The 29-year-old was last seen last April, taking all eight rounds against Vladimir Belujsky.
Prediction: Pacheco looks to have found an opponent that he will likely look good against, with Cullen willing to trade. I think the favourite can score a stoppage around the middle rounds.
Davies Jr faces Foley
Robbie Davies Jr has a late change of opponent after Liam Paro pulled out through injury, and in-steps Ireland’s Darragh Foley for a ten rounder at super lightweight.
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Davies Jr (23-3, 15 KOs) has won three on the spin since losing a majority verdict to Gabriel Valenzuela in February 2021, while Foley (21-4-1, 9 KOs) has won four back in his adopted home of Australia since a points loss to Tyrone McKenna in 2019.
Prediction: Davies Jr can take this one clearly on the cards.
Fisher fights Damiani
Rising heavyweight prospect, Johnny Fisher (7-0, 6 KOs) steps up to eight round level for the first time, and ’The Romford Bull’ can score another knockout win against Italy’s Alfonso Damiani (6-2, 2 KOs).
Remaining Undercard
2020 Olympian, Peter McGrail (6-0, 5 KOs) is set to make his Matchroom debut in a ten rounder against an opponent to be confirmed.
Rhiannon Dixon (7-0) goes for her first professional title, and she should claim the vacant Commonwealth lightweight crown with a points win over Vicky Wilkinson (5-0-1).
Campbell Hatton (9-0, 3 KOs) also sees action, and ’The Hurricane’ should outscore Michel Gonxhe (4-2-1) over a scheduled six at lightweight.
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Aqib Fiaz (10-0) has his first bout of 2023, and the Oldham native should win his eight rounder at lightweight against Dean Dodge (9-2-1, 3 KOs) on the referee’s card.
At middleweight, Paddy Lacey (7-0, 1 KO) should halt James McCarthy (2-4-1) inside their six round distance, and George Liddard (1-0, 1 KO) can do the same in his four rounder against Daniel Przewieslik (3-12-2, 3 KOs).
