It was an enjoyable December night of boxing in California last night at the Adventist Health Arena in Stockton, at a Matchroom Boxing event. Among the standout names on the card were the two super middleweights headlining the show, Diego Pacheco (24-0) and Kevin Lele Sadjo (25-0).
A clash between two undefeated fighters with impressive knockout percentages, contested for the WBC Silver and WBO International titles.
Both men came into what was the biggest fight of their careers having comfortably made weight.
After twelve hard-fought rounds, Pacheco ultimately captured the belts by unanimous decision (117-110, 116-111, 115-112), launching himself toward potential clashes with the division’s elite. It was nevertheless a bout full of key moments for both corners.
As the main event got underway, both fighters appeared highly focused, carefully studying one another. Pacheco enjoyed a clear reach advantage and fired straight shots from the outside, while Sadjo proved to be a very solid fighter who courageously tried to close the distance from the outset.
In the second round, the American began to work behind the jab and mix in right hands, while the Frenchman moved his upper body to slip the straight punches, advancing with a very high guard.
The pace started to increase. Pacheco threw two-handed combinations, while Sadjo looked to get inside. The Frenchman landed a few left hooks to the American’s head, while Pacheco appeared keen to clinch every time Sadjo managed to get close.
In the fifth round, Sadjo came out of his corner visibly more determined. He kept advancing with his hands high and unleashed heavy hooks, surprising an opponent who continued to operate from long range offensively and to clinch constantly when on the defensive. Pacheco seemed intent on slowing the fight down, but Sadjo refused to play along.
Around the halfway point, Pacheco worked the Frenchman’s body very effectively, though Sadjo kept pressing aggressively and forcing his way in with dangerous hooks. As the rounds went on, the clinching—clearly initiated by Pacheco—became increasingly frequent.
There was a great exchange at the start of the seventh round, with both fighters trading at center ring. It was the most competitive round up to that point. Sadjo was building momentum, growing more ruthless and trying to avoid clinches while looking to land with authority.
Pacheco’s jab remained active, but from the fifth round onward Sadjo looked genuinely fired up. In the eighth, a sudden left hook crashed onto Pacheco’s jaw, sending him to the canvas at a critical moment in the fight. He got back to his feet and resumed boxing from the outside, but Sadjo followed up with another dangerous left hook—an explosive round.
Round nine saw Pacheco clinching blatantly under the “less attentive” eyes of the referee. He began to accept some close-range exchanges in order to land his own shots, but was caught by the right hand of a more measured Sadjo, who waited for the right moments and openings.
The tenth round opened with a fierce exchange, both fighters stepping in and trying to land heavy blows. Once again Sadjo caught his opponent, as the final rounds were charged with tension.
With tactics largely abandoned, the closing rounds turned into a hard, face-to-face battle at center ring, with both fighters eager to showcase their full arsenal. Pacheco fired two-handed combinations and delivered devastating uppercuts to the head, taking advantage of his opponent’s fatigue.
Sadjo appeared to be running out of steam, and Pacheco—already ahead on the scorecards after the knockdown—managed the final three minutes with minimal risk, securing the two titles.
It was an engaging fight between the two, neither man holding back. Pacheco’s clinching at times slowed the action and became tedious, but it was clearly part of the night’s game plan to neutralize the relentless Sadjo, who showed both strength and courage.
After the knockdown, Pacheco truly regained control of the fight. Now, following this major showcase, talk has already turned to a potential matchup with another super middleweight coming off a significant victory, Hamzah Sheeraz. Should the fight happen, the British fighter appears to be in better form at the moment in my opinion, but it would undoubtedly be another pivotal bout at the top of the division.