Diego Pacheco is hoping to make a statement on Saturday night by becoming the first to knock out Poland’s Maciej Sulecki when they clash at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Los Angeles.
The super middleweight division is in focus as the summer winds down and the sport braces for world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s annual September showdown, this time against Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas on the 14th. The Mexican superstar holds three of the four sanctioning body gongs, including the WBO strap for which Pacheco is the mandatory challenger.
The 35-year-old Sulecki, 32-2 (12 KOs), boasts victories over Gabe Rosado, Hugo Centeno Jr and Jack Culcay, but in his two biggest tests, against Daniel Jacobs and Demetrius Andrade in 2018 and 2019 respectively, he was outpointed over 12 rounds. He regardless likely represents Pacheco’s toughest test to date.
“Maciej is a veteran, he’s been in some tough fights and he’s fought some good champions,” noted the 23-year-old Pacheco, 21-0 (17 KOs). “I’m just looking forward to adding him to my resume. He’s another guy that’s looking to take this away from me, but I’ve put the work in, I have God on my side and that’s all that matters… There’s nothing that can stop me.
“Maciej has had harder fights than my other opponents. He’s boxed some great fighters and he’s fought for a world [WBO] title and he’s beaten a lot of good fighters too. So, we won’t know until I’m in the ring with him if he’s my toughest fight but I’m treating this fight like it’s my last fight and I’m ready for the best of him.”
Sulecki has won his past four bouts, albeit against middling opposition, and is known for his durability.
“I’m a special fighter,” countered Pacheco when describing why he can win this one inside schedule. “All respect to Jacobs and Andrade but I think stylistically I’m more of a power puncher; I’m a better counter-puncher, I just have it all. I can work inside and go to the body, I can outbox my opponents and frustrate them and get them to open up. It’s just a matter of how the fight goes; I’m ready for whatever he brings and I believe I’ll get the knockout.
“I don’t like to do too much studying, because you can study, and study, and study, and then on fight night you meet something completely different. I prefer to adjust when I’m in there, so we’ll see what he brings on Saturday.”
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