Diego Pacheco vs Immanuwel Aleem

Diego Pacheco is supposed to win this and look good doing it. Immanuwel Aleem is experienced, tough and knows his way around a ring, but he is giving away too much height and reach.

Pacheco is a tall, long super-middleweight. He can jab down the pipe, bring the right hand behind it and punish a man underneath once he shells up. Aleem will need to get inside quickly, press his forehead to Pacheco’s chest, and make it scruffy.

That is where Pacheco still has questions to answer. Kevin Lele Sadjo dropped him after he became too upright and allowed him onto his chest. Buddy McGirt must get him moving his feet after punching instead of pulling straight back with his chin in the air.

Aleem’s problem is reaching him without having his face jabbed off. He cannot stand at mid-range. He must slip outside the lead hand and attack the body immediately, but I cannot see him maintaining that pressure for twelve rounds.

Aleem may clip Pacheco early, but once the jab settles and the right uppercut starts coming through the middle, he will be broken down.

Prediction: Pacheco to chip away with the jab and right hand until the referee has seen enough.