With an opportunity to contend for the unoccupied WBO championship against Janibek Alimkhanuly seemingly on the horizon, Diego Pacheco is instead zeroing in on Darius Fulghum. This decision reveals far more regarding Pacheco’s current standing in the sport than any repetitive demands to share the ring with Jaime Munguia could ever convey.
Scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on November 14, Pacheco will square off against Fulghum, serving as the main event for the “The Fight” broadcast on TNT and DAZN. According to reports from Everything Boxing, the contest features the WBA’s fifth and sixth-ranked contenders in the super middleweight division. An official announcement from the promotion companies and television networks has yet to be made.
Although Fulghum represents a rated challenger, the scheduling of this bout brings up a glaring inquiry. What is the reasoning behind Pacheco’s camp entering talks with him, considering Pacheco currently occupies the WBO’s second spot, sitting right behind Janibek?
Since the WBO 168-pound belt remains unclaimed, Janibek and Pacheco stand as the top two uncommitted contenders on the ranking list. While the governing organization has not yet mandated a match between them, the current ratings put Pacheco in a perfect spot to claim that title shot. Choosing to finalize a deal with Fulghum indicates that those managing Pacheco’s career are not focusing their strategy on Janibek.
It is hard not to link this choice to Pacheco’s subpar showing when he shared the ring with Kevin Lele Sadjo. During that bout, his performance fell short of what one would expect from a contender preparing to challenge Janibek, a highly skilled left-hander known for his punching power, precision, and championship pedigree. Even though Pacheco subsequently secured a stoppage victory over Immanuwel Aleem, that win failed to resolve the doubts lingering from his struggle against Sadjo.
A clear trend has emerged that cannot easily be disregarded. Near the end of 2024, Pacheco opted out of an IBF title eliminator versus Christian Mbilli, choosing a match with Steven Nelson instead. Following that, his representatives pulled out of talks for a WBC interim title clash against Mbilli in April 2025. Furthermore, in January 2026, Pacheco abandoned the purse bid negotiations for an open WBO championship bout with Hamzah Sheeraz.
Presently, a matchup with Janibek offers an alternative path to securing that very same WBO crown, yet Pacheco is directing his focus toward a clash with Fulghum.
Fulghum should not be underestimated. He possesses solid physical strength, likes to apply forward pressure, and will attempt to drag Pacheco into close-quarters exchanges. Nevertheless, he was defeated by Bektemir Melikuziev in May 2025—a fight in which he was dropped in the final round—and subsequently went on to a grueling draw against David Stevens. He represents a significantly less dangerous challenge than Janibek.
Furthermore, his boxing style plays directly into Pacheco’s strengths. Fulghum typically moves forward with a high defensive posture that leaves his torso unprotected. This setup allows Pacheco to catch him with straight rights from distance, counter uppercuts, and digging hooks to the midsection. Whenever Fulghum rushes forward without setting up with his jab, the check left hook will likely be there for the taking.
Even so, Pacheco must overcome his tendency to fight passively during the initial stages of the contest. Allowing Fulghum to close the distance and crowd him against the ropes will turn the encounter into a grueling, physical battle that he could have otherwise avoided.
No matter how this upcoming bout unfolds, the overarching concern persists. For years, Pacheco has voiced his desire for high-profile matchups, yet his handlers consistently pivot to a different path whenever a risky title opportunity presents itself. Opting for Fulghum when he is ranked just one slot below Janibek does not look like the action of a boxer eager to seize his moment at the top. Instead, it suggests a management team fully aware that their fighter is not yet prepared for that elite level.
