Shaun Brown spoke to the super-middleweight prospect simply earlier than he clashed with Sulecki…
FIVE years in the past Diego Pacheco beat Terry Fernandez by third-round stoppage in a four-round contest. The bout kicked off a Golden Boy Promotions card – headlined by Jaime Munguia vs. Patrick Allotey – on the ‘Conflict Grounds’ in Carson, California.
Pacheco, then 18 years previous, was a thin 6ft 4ins super-middleweight making an attempt to make his mark at an outside venue synonymous with nice fights, as soon as referred to as the Residence Depot Heart however now often known as the Dignity Well being Sports activities Park.
Again in 2007 and 2008, Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez waged battle there twice of their four-fight collection. Whereas Timothy Bradley Jr and Ruslan Provodnikov, Lucas Matthysse and John Molina Jr, and Francisco Vargas and Orlando Salido all left a part of themselves on the identical venue between 2013 and 2016 in violent battle of the 12 months contenders.
On Saturday, August 31 Pacheco returns to the ‘Conflict Grounds’ towards Polish veteran Maciej Sulecki – however this time as the primary occasion and underneath the Matchroom Boxing banner. And in 2024 Pacheco is a number one world super-middleweight title contender in a division dominated by Canelo Alvarez.
Realising how far he has come from novice to essential occasion fighter was pleasing for Pacheco when Boxing Information spoke to him not too long ago.
“It’s an incredible feeling after I actually give it some thought. 5 years in the past after I was on that run in 2019, that was one of many fights. It was the Munguia undercard,” he recalled.
“I used to be opening up the present for them [Golden Boy] in Carson on the Dignity Well being Sports activities Park. And it was a fantastic expertise. I used to be combating an undefeated opponent on the time.
“And I acquired the win, third spherical knockout. And it continued to be a fantastic place for fights. I’ve numerous recollections there with my household and associates who have been going to get pleasure from some fights as a fan. And for me to now be headlining there and to be inviting everybody to come back watch, it’s a fantastic feeling. I’m excited.”
“I’m very motivated,” he added. “I put the work on this camp and I can’t wait to placed on a fantastic present on the battle grounds.”
Pacheco has been bending the ear of promoter Eddie Hearn for harder fights and Sulecki is the kind of take a look at that’s wanted for the Californian. Since 2018 his opponent has shared the ring with former world champions Daniel Jacobs and Demetrius Andrade and, whereas Sulecki didn’t beat both of them, he does maintain a 10-round win over Gabe Rosado. However the 35-year-old from Warsaw is a middleweight however ought to, not less than, ask some questions of Pacheco.
“I’ve been making an attempt to make some massive fights with different nice fighters,” Pacheco mentioned.
“However for a number of causes, the fights don’t undergo. And we felt that Sulecki was a fantastic match for me proper now. He’s a tricky veteran fighter who’s been in numerous robust fights and world championship fights. And clearly I’m an up-and-coming contender and I have to be examined towards guys like this to get to that subsequent degree. And I’m excited for this battle.
“I really feel like Sulecki has by no means been within the ring with a boxer puncher like me, who’s 6ft 4ins, can transfer, can use the ring, can keep within the inside and go to the physique as nicely. His fashion with my fashion and his mentality with my mentality goes to make for an incredible battle.
“I’m simply excited. I’m excited to placed on a fantastic present. Particularly after my final battle. My final opponent Shawn McCalman. He made the battle very awkward and bizarre for me. He didn’t let me get off as a lot as I want to. So I undoubtedly need to come again and get again to my knockout methods and simply placed on nice performances.”
Life is travelling in the suitable course for Pacheco. A rising star who turned a father this 12 months, the younger man from South Central in Los Angeles has matured because of the arrival of his daughter. Modified days for Pacheco who admitted in a Matchroom documentary (obtainable on YouTube) that his life might have gone one other route if the streets had swallowed him up.
“My daughter has modified my life fully. I really feel like I’ve simply matured much more, I’m much more centered,” Pacheco advised BN
“I put much more thought into each single factor I do. I’m actually simply motivated.
“I’ve my daughter. I attempt to get pleasure from all of the little issues now. Again then, if you’re younger, all the things appears simple. That was at all times my mentality, ‘I’ll be okay’. Now it’s not nearly me. I’ve my daughter, I’ve my household.
“Now I’ve acquired to the purpose the place I simply need to be residence. I simply need to be in my home. I simply need to be with my daughter. I simply need to be with my spouse. The times go by so quick, being in camp, beginning the morning exercise, after which it’s time to go to the gymnasium at midday once more. You then come residence and it’s time to go once more.
“The times simply fly by [so] I strive my finest to simply get pleasure from each second right here at residence with my daughter and my spouse. That’s actually what it’s about for me, placing within the work and spending high quality time with my family members.”
Beating Sulecki will tick off one other battle and one other day nearer to a world title alternative. On the time of writing, Pacheco was the WBO No.1 contender and sitting at fourth with the IBF and WBC. Beneath Canelo Alvarez, who now holds three of the belts, there are just a few fascinating challengers starting to emerge. Pacheco is one among them, in a powerful place and it’s potential {that a} battle towards the Mexican might occur subsequent 12 months.
“I’m undoubtedly keen to take that battle with clearly Canelo, who’s the champion,” he mentioned.
“But when Canelo, for some motive, doesn’t need to give me that chance, then I’m keen to battle each different man who’s there within the high 10.
“There’s numerous guys. There’s [Christian] Mbilli, there’s Edgar Berlanga, there’s Jaime Munguia. There’s a lot that’ll make for some massive fights.”
And, if Pacheco has to attend for a shot at a title, then he needs to make nice fights for the followers.
“That’s one among my objectives”, he mentioned.
“If I can’t get to the world title but, then let’s simply make the largest fights potential to get us nearer to that world title. That’s what it’s about, man. That’s what I’m on this for.
“We’re simply to start with of my profession nonetheless. I’m excited for what’s to come back. A whole lot of massive fights within the subsequent few years.”
