(June 17th) Matchroom Boxing, led by promoter Eddie Hearn, announced that undefeated super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco will face WBC title challenger Immanuwel Aleem in a 12-round showdown for the WBC Silver Super Middleweight and WBO International Super Middleweight titles on Saturday, July 18, 2026. The event will be broadcast live on DAZN PPV from the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
 

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Pacheco (25-0 18 KOs) holds lofty positions in all the governing bodies - #3 WBO, #4 WBC and IBF, #7 WBA – and will be out to impress on a night that represents a new chapter in his blossoming career. The LA star penned a new deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom over the weekend, and July 18 will be his first fight with new trainer Buddy McGirt and the 25 year old fights at the esteemed California coliseum known as the War Grounds for the second time, having previously KO’d Maciej Sulecki there in 2024.

Aleem (22-4-3 14 KOs) has his own title aspirations and at a fiery first face-off in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday before Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez became a three-weight World ruler, the 32 year old told Pacheco in no uncertain terms that he was the man to hand him his first defeat. ‘The Chosen One’ will be looking to crash into the top-end of the rankings with the biggest win of his career and bounce back from defeat in his last outing in March, a distance reversal against Lester Martinez for the interim WBC World title.

“I’m very happy to be extending my deal with Matchroom and Eddie Hearn, who have believed in me since I was 17,” said Pacheco. “This second chapter of my career is about legacy and becoming a World champion, and it all starts July 18.”

“I have earned my place in this sport, and I intend to keep moving forward,” said Aleem. “There is no doubt in my mind. There is no hesitation in my preparation. There is no uncertainty in my purpose. I am prepared. I am focused. I am ready. And when the moment arrives, I'll do what I've trained my entire life to do, perform at my highest level and leave no questions behind – my hand will be raised on July 18.”

A stacked undercard is led by a massive fight in the Lightweight division as Andy Cruz and Albert Bell clash in a final eliminator for the IBF World title. Cruz (6-1 3 KOs) is hunting his second crack at the IBF strap having been edged out in his first World title showdown by defending champion Raymond Muratalla in Las Vegas in January. The Cuban Olympic hero will put himself back in line for the belt but meets stiff opposition in Bell (28-0 9 KOs), the unbeaten Ohioan who will view this as his coming out party if he can hand back-to-back defeats to Cruz.

“I’ve already proven that I belong at the World championship level,” said Cruz. “Now it's time to earn that opportunity once again. Albert Bell is a good fighter, but I'm focused, motivated, and ready to take the next step. This final eliminator is my chance to get back where I belong—fighting for the IBF World title.”

“I’m really looking forward to this fight and long-awaited opportunity,” said Bell. “Being an avoided fighter for a big portion of my career I’m just ready to show the world who I am, and that’s one of the best in the boxing business. I’m happy I finally get to show case what I bring to the table against world class opposition on boxing’s biggest network. After July 18 the lightweight division will officially have a new player in the mix to be “the guy” at 135lbs.”

Albert ‘Chop Chop’ Gonzalez is a hotly-tipped name for the future, and he takes on Aaron Lopez Alameda over ten rounds at Featherweight. Gonzalez (17-0 10 KOs) has already landed two wins inside the ten round distance this year in January and March, and the Robert Garcia trained 24 year old will be hunting a fourth straight stoppage win to put the Featherweight division on notice against former World title challenger Alameda (30-3 17 KOs).

“First and foremost, I want to thank God, my team, and everyone who supports me,” said Gonzalez. “I also want to thank Top Rank, Matchroom, and DAZN for this opportunity. Fighting at home in Southern California on a card this big means a lot to me. Aaron Alameda has fought for a World title before, so I know how tough he is. I’ve been putting in all the work, so now it’s my time to shine. I’m going to put on a great show on July 18.”

British Heavyweight starlet Leo Atang makes his American debut on the card and will be looking to continue his destructive start to life in the paid ranks. Atang (7-0 6 KOs) bagged a sixth KO win in seven pro-outings in June, adding Fouad Shaili to a list of five victims that have failed to reach the second round against him.

"The worldwide tour continues,” said Atang, who will fight over six rounds against an opponent to be named soon. “I’m buzzing to be making my American debut on such a great card. I’m always grateful for the opportunities I am being given at such a young age, and this will definitely be a great experience. I can’t wait to get another knockout win on July 18. It’s LA in LA. Make sure you tune in, live on DAZN.”

Atang is joined by another young Matchroom tyro as Frank Espinoza fights for the fifth time in the paid ranks and will be hunting a fifth straight KO win over six rounds, with an opponent to be announced in due course, and further undercard additions will be confirmed soon.

MAIN EVENT — SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (12 Rounds)

Diego Pacheco (25-0, 18 KOs)
vs.
Immanuwel Aleem (22-4-3, 14 KOs)

Titles on the Line: WBC Silver Super Middleweight & WBO International Super Middleweight

Pacheco, a consensus top-5 super middleweight contender ranked across three governing bodies, returns to his home state under his newly renewed Matchroom Boxing contract. The 24-year-old Mexican-American fighter chose to turn pro with Eddie Hearn as the number-one rated middleweight in America and Mexico after becoming an eight-time National Champion.

Aleem enters as the WBC's No. 14-ranked contender in an interim title fight sanctioned by the WBC.

CO-MAIN EVENT — LIGHTWEIGHT (12 Rounds)

Andy Cruz (6-1)
vs.
Albert Bell (28-0)

Titles on the Line: IBF World Lightweight Title Final Eliminator

The co-feature showcases Cuban Olympic champion Andy Cruz against undefeated Albert Bell in a crucial final eliminator for the IBF lightweight title.

FEATHERWEIGHT (10 Rounds)

Albert Gonzalez (17-0)
vs.
Aaron Lopez Alameda (30-3)

Two featherweights with winning records meet in a crucial contest, with Gonzalez seeking to maintain his undefeated streak against experienced Alameda.

HEAVYWEIGHT (6 Rounds)

Leo Atang (7-0, 0 KOs)
vs.
TBA

Rising heavyweight prospect Atang continues his development on the Matchroom roster.

MIDDLEWEIGHT (6 Rounds)

Frank Espinoza (4-0, 0 KOs)
vs.
TBA

Undefeated middleweight Espinoza looks to build on his promising start to his professional career.

PRODUCTION & EVENT DETAILS

Promoter: Eddie Hearn — Matchroom Boxing
Matchmakers: Tom Dallas & Kevin Rooney Jr.
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California
Broadcast: Live on DAZN PPV
Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
Event Time: 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT

About Diego Pacheco 

Pacheco's announcement marks his first fight under his renewed Matchroom deal, which was set to expire in summer 2026. The fight was officially announced live on Saturday, June 14, 2026, preceding Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez's WBA bantamweight title fight. Pacheco returns to Dignity Health Sports Park, where he previously competed, bringing his uninterrupted winning streak to the Los Angeles market.

About DAZN

Welcome to DAZN, the global sports streaming platform that transcends boundaries and redefines the way fans experience their favorite sports. With availability in over 200 territories, DAZN ensures that sports enthusiasts around the world can immerse themselves in the thrill of live and on-demand content, on any device, at the touch of a button.

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About Matchroom Boxing

After the success of snooker in the 1980s, Matchroom Sport moved into boxing with two small hall shows followed by Frank Bruno v Joe Bugner at Tottenham Hotspur’s ground – the biggest boxing event of 1987. That launched the company into the boxing big-time, a position it has maintained ever since.

Through the 1990s Matchroom Sport’s boxing roster featured many of the biggest names in the sport including Lennox Lewis, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Steve Collins and Naseem Hamed, all in world title fights and it continues to work with some of the biggest names in UK boxing including Audley Harrison, the 2000 Olympic Super-Heavyweight gold medalist.

Over the years, Matchroom Sport has built up long-standing relationships with broadcasters around the world and with the advent of the Prizefighter phenomenon, the company’s boxing division has never been in a stronger position.

From fantastic six round scraps between the sport’s journeymen, up to multi-million-dollar World Championship contests featuring the above fighters, the Pro Box series has it all. Each show is packed with the very best in boxing action in a series that encompasses almost 25 years of Matchroom Sport’s commitment to bringing the highest quality to the global television market.