Rising American talent Diego Pacheco attempts to move a step closer to a world title shot this Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, as he defends his WBC USA and WBO International super middleweight belts against the experienced Macej Sulecki.
Matchroom promote Pacheco vs Sulecki, and DAZN televise the bill live.
Pacheco (21-0, 17 KOs) stepped up in class at the start of 2023, travelling to Liverpool to halt Jack Cullen in four rounds to take the vacant WBO International bauble.
After stopping Manuel Gallegos in the same frame in July 2023, Pacheco then got the better of Marcelo Coceres in November, knocking the Argentine out in nine rounds in a thriller.
He was last out in April, taking a points win over ten rounds, and the unbeaten record of Shawn McCalman in Las Vegas.
The 23-year-old now takes on the grizzled veteran Sulecki (32-2, 12 KOs), a former world title challenger whose losses have come in good company.
After losing on the cards to Daniel Jacobs in 2018, the Pole would go on to take an absorbing points win over Gabriel Roasdo less than a year later, where both fighters were down twice, and that win gave Sulecki a shot at the WBO title against Demetrius Andrade.
It would be a losing effort though, as he was routed on the cards, losing every round. Since then, the 35-year-old has fought only four times and at a much lower level, the last being in May where he outscored Rowdy Legend Montgomery over ten rounds in May.
Prediction: Pacheco takes another gentle step up in class here, and he should have the tools to deal with Sulecki. The Pole is a tough nut to crack though, and Pacheco may need the distance to get his hand raised.
Clarke looks to impress Stateside
There is British interest on the card as cruiserweight hope Cheavon Clarke (9-0, 7 KOs) makes a US debut, and the reigning British champion can be the first to stop the big-punching Efetobor Apochi (12-2, 12 KOs) in their scheduled ten rounder.
Cheavon Clarke knocks out Ellis Zorro in the 8th round to claim the British Cruiserweight Title 🏆#TaylorCatteral2
pic.twitter.com/ASNY0Re6zV— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) May 25, 2024
Mexican super bantamweight hope Arturo Popoca (14-0-1, 8 KOs) also sees action, and he should defend his WBC Continental Americas title with a points win over ten rounds against Jesus Arechiga Valdez (21-1, 15 KOs).
Adelaida Ruiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs) puts her interim WBC super flyweight title on the line, and she should have just enough to take a points win against former Olympian, Ginny Fuchs (3-0, 1 KO).
The final ten rounder comes at super featherweight, where Eduardo Nunez (26-1, 26 KOs) may need all available sessions to take the win against former two-time world title challenger, Miguel Marriaga (31-7, 26 KOs), a man only stopped by Vasyl Lomachenko in seven defeats.
There’s a reason Sugar Nunez has 27 KOs in his 27 wins 😳#PachecoSulecki | Aug 31 | Live on DAZN pic.twitter.com/rGZV1OPa3X
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) August 26, 2024
In six rounders, Criztec Bazaldua (5-0, 1 KO) can get the better of Kyle Irwin (7-2, 3 KOs) on points at super lightweight, and at welterweight, Fabian Rojo (9-0, 7 KOs) can take the early route to deal with Alejandro Frias Rodriguez (15-10-2, 7 KOs). Super flyweight prospect Alexander Gueche (5-0, 5 KOs) can stay perfect with a stoppage win against David Vargas Zamora (8-4-2, 5 KOs).
