Diego Pacheco vs Jack Cullen – Results & Post-Fight Report

At the top of a Matchroom promoted bill at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, Diego Pacheco ruthlessly took the vacant WBO International middleweight title with a fourth round stoppage of Jack Cullen.

The original headliner was due to be Callum Smith, but he was forced out of his clash with Pavel Stepien due to injury, so this contest was elevated to main event status. Pacheco had built a reputation in the USA as a very hot prospect, while Cullen was seen as a decent step up in class, having previously competed at the top level domestically.

Pacheco (18-0, KO15) started off a snappy jab, and quickly settled into a rhythm, with a lovely, crisp right hand finding a home in the second that Cullen (21-4-1, KO9) took well. The American began to open up in round three, and it was a matter of time before he closed the show, which duly happened a round later.

A massive right hand followed by a wicked left to the body dropped and hurt Cullen badly in the fourth, and although he survived the count, Pacheco ended matters in a flash, a double jab and two monster right hands closing the show as the referee intervened while Cullen was dropping to the canvas.

Robbie Davies Jr (23-4, KO15) was due to face Liam Paro, but the Aussie pulled out, and his replacement, Darragh Foley (22-4-1, KO9) took an upset third round stoppage win in their ten rounder at super lightweight. Foley knocked Davies down at the end of the second with a big right hand, and the third saw Foley land another right hand that made Davies’ foot twist awkwardly, and he fell to the canvas once more. He rose gingerly, and the referee waved the fight off.

Peter McGrail (7-0, KO5) made a Matchroom debut, and the gifted former Olympian was superb in routing Argentina’s Nicolas Nahuel Botelli (14-8, KO8) over ten rounds at super bantamweight. The Liverpudlian took all ten rounds in an impressive display.

Johnny Fisher (8-0, KO7) delighted his legion of supporters, as he stopped Alfonso Damiani (6-3, KO2) in the fourth of their heavyweight encounter set for eight. Fisher opened up in round four, and after connecting with a right hand that snapped the Italian’s head back, the referee had seen enough.

Aqib Fiaz (11-0, KO1) scored his first early win as a professional, halting Dean Dodge (9-3-1, KO3) in the eighth and final round of their lightweight contest. Dodge was down at the end of the opener, as Fiaz timed a crisp right hand, and the Oldham man was completely dominant, eventually forcing the stoppage in the last round with Dodge under heavy fire.

Campbell Hatton (10-0, KO3) appeared early on this bill, and he retained his unbeaten start to life as a professional, taking a six round points win at lightweight against Michel Gonxhe (4-3-1, KO0). ’The Hurricane’ came through a 59-55 victor.

Rhiannon Dixon (8-0, KO1) took the vacant Commonwealth lightweight title, as she dropped Vicky Wilkinson (5-1-1, KO0) twice in a sixth round stoppage win. Dixon dropped Wilkinson with a body shot in round six, and repeated the trick on the resumption, with the referee un-willing to let the action continue after completing a count.

Paddy Lacey (8-0, KO1) got the better of a firefight against James McCarthy (2-5-1, KO0) at middleweight. Lacey won all six rounds, but it wasn’t a true reflection, as he was sternly tested.

George Liddard (2-0, KO2) opened the show, and stopped Poland’s Daniel Przewieslik (3-13-2, KO2) in the third round of a scheduled four at middleweight.