Diego Pacheco extended his unbeaten record with a hard‑fought unanimous decision victory over Kevin Lele Sadjo in a grueling super middleweight main event in Stockton, California. The young American had to climb off the canvas after suffering the first knockdown of his professional career but rallied down the stretch to secure the win on all three judges’ scorecards.
Pacheco survives scare to stay unbeaten
The fight served as the headline attraction of a DAZN card and was billed as a significant step‑up test for Pacheco against the dangerous, previously undefeated Sadjo. Pacheco entered the bout with an impressive knockout ratio and growing profile as one of the most promising contenders at 168 pounds, while Sadjo arrived with a reputation as a heavy‑handed spoiler capable of upsetting the plans of rising prospects.
After 12 intense rounds, the judges scored the contest 117‑110, 116‑111 and 115‑112, all in favor of Pacheco, reflecting both his early control and his strong rally in the championship rounds. With the result, Pacheco moved to 25‑0 with 18 knockouts, while Sadjo suffered the first defeat of his professional career, falling to 26‑1 with 23 KOs.
In the opening rounds, Pacheco made full use of his considerable physical advantages, enjoying a clear edge in height and reach over his opponent. He kept the fight largely at long range, spearing Sadjo with jabs and straight right hands while circling to avoid extended exchanges at mid‑ and close‑range. Sadjo, shorter and more compact, tried to march forward with looping hooks, but often found himself reaching or smothered before he could land clean.
The pattern established an early narrative of boxer versus puncher. Pacheco’s volume, discipline and ring generalship allowed him to bank rounds, even as individual exchanges remained competitive and physically demanding for both men. The cleaner long‑range work from the American stood out in many of the early sessions.
Shock knockdown in Round 8
The fight’s turning point came in the eighth round, when Sadjo finally broke through with the kind of power shot many had warned about before the opening bell. A powerful left hook caught Pacheco clean, dropping him to the canvas for the first time in his professional career and briefly stunning the Stockton crowd. Pacheco beat the count and, rather than unravelling, managed to steady himself and fire back, ending the round with his own eye‑catching left hook that helped stem Sadjo’s momentum.
That sequence shifted the tone of the bout and added genuine jeopardy to what had previously felt like a largely controlled, if scrappy, performance from Pacheco. It also provided a key reference point for future predictions about how he responds under real adversity at world‑level pace.
Far from fading after the knockdown, Pacheco produced his best work in the closing stages. In the 11th round, he turned the tide decisively with a compact right hand followed by a left hook that rocked Sadjo and triggered a long barrage as he pressed for a possible stoppage. Although the French‑Congolese fighter showed resilience and refused to go down, the momentum clearly swung back in Pacheco’s direction.
In the 12th and final round, Pacheco smartly targeted Sadjo’s body, ripping hooks downstairs that helped sap what remained of the challenger’s energy and left a strong final impression on the judges. That late surge, combined with his earlier control, ensured that the knockdown against him was not enough to overturn his overall points lead on the scorecards.
Ugly clinching and mixed reviews
Despite the drama of the knockdown and rally, the fight drew mixed reviews from fans and some analysts due to frequent clinching and a stop‑start rhythm. At times, Pacheco resorted to excessive holding on the inside to stifle Sadjo’s bursts of aggression, prompting visible frustration from the crowd and criticism that the contest became “ugly” in stretches. The performance was widely described as workmanlike rather than spectacular, especially given the pre‑fight expectations that Pacheco might chase a statement knockout.
Nonetheless, the bout provided valuable rounds and experience for a young fighter still developing at the top level. Demonstrating the ability to recover from a knockdown, adjust mid‑fight and close strong in the championship rounds may prove more important long‑term than another early stoppage on his record.
The win capped a busy and productive 2025 for Pacheco, who closed the year with three consecutive unanimous decision victories. Earlier in the year, he outpointed Steven Nelson in January and Trevor McCumby in July, showcasing steady improvements in stamina, ring generalship and shot selection, even as his knockout streak slowed. That run of opponents reflects a deliberate step‑up strategy against seasoned, durable fighters rather than overmatched opposition.
Sadjo, meanwhile, entered the fight with a formidable knockout record and regional titles, having built a reputation as a dangerous, physically strong contender on the European scene. Suffering his first loss on the road against a taller, longer and technically refined opponent will be a setback, but his knockdown of Pacheco and his willingness to press forward for 12 rounds suggest he will remain a threat to many contenders in the division.
At 168 pounds, the super middleweight division is one of boxing’s most glamorous and congested, with established stars, belt‑holders and a wave of ambitious contenders jostling for position. By surviving a knockdown and defeating an unbeaten opponent, Pacheco strengthened his claim as a genuine player in that mix and moved himself closer to elimination bouts or title opportunities in 2026. His ability to box at range, combined with proven toughness after this test, makes him an intriguing option for future high‑stakes matchups.
Economically, maintaining an undefeated record remains crucial for building leverage in negotiations, attracting television and streaming investment, and securing slots on major cards. The fact that Pacheco headlined in Stockton and delivered 12 gritty rounds against a live opponent should help his team market him not just as a puncher, but as a developing all‑rounder capable of anchoring cards in key markets, generating news interest and fueling ongoing debate among fans and analysts.
What’s next for Pacheco?
Attention now turns to what type of opponent Pacheco will face next as he edges closer to world‑title contention. His team may choose another ranked contender to further refine his skills and test him against different styles, or they could push for a title eliminator if the sanctioning bodies respond favorably to his recent run. Either route will fuel fresh predictions and debate among fans about how close he is to challenging the division’s top names.
