In an impressive return to form, top-ranked super middleweight Diego Pacheco dominated and knocked out Immanuwel Aleem in round 11 tonight at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, and live on DAZN.

Fighting in the main event of a Matchroom Boxing card, WBO No. 3-, WBC No. 4-, WBA No. 7-, and IBF No. 12-ranked Pacheco, 25-0 (18 KOs), was dominant throughout, using his long reach and thudding power to keep WBC No. 13-ranked Aleem, 22-4-3 (14 KOs), at bay and absorbing punishment.

With the victory, 25-year-old Pacheco may have gone a long way toward erasing fans’ bad tastes over his previous performance, a shaky 12-round decision over Kevin Lele Sadjo where Pacheco had to get up off the canvas in round eight and then spent long stretches tying Sadjo up in December 2025.

Having his first fight with new trainer Buddy McGirt, the 6′ 4″ Los Angeles native Pacheco came out utilizing his jab to keep 5’ 9” Aleem at bay, occasionally landing right hands high on the head and behind the ear in the first four rounds. 

Between rounds two and three, father/trainer Omar Aleem implored his son to start coming forward.

Coming off a strong performance against Lester Martinez for the WBC Interim world super middleweight title last March, Aleem was thought to be capable of giving Pacheco trouble, but that was not the case. The towering Pacheco opened up with full power in a more aggressive fifth round, smashing Aleem with several thudding right hands to the head and body.

Now showing the unmistakable signs of wear on his face and breathing hard through his mouth, Aleem continued to eat most of Pacheco’s punches with few effective answers.

Richmond, Virginia’s Aleem rocked Pacheco with a sneaky right early in round seven, in response, Pacheco unleashed a fearsome barrage of power shots to the head and body until the end of the round that a clearly hurt but super tough Aleem somehow barely withstood.

Looking to get back in the fight, Aleem took his father’s advice and started crowding Pacheco in round eight, and was having moderate success for the first half of the round until Pacheco dug more hard body shots to Aleem’s solar plexus that had him visibly wincing. 

Just as referee Ray Corona appeared to be considering stopping the fight, Aleem landed another short right hand in round nine that temporarily stemmed the mounting punishment he was absorbing from the slashing fists of Pacheco.

A Pacheco uppercut badly wobbled Aleem midway through round 10 and his follow-up once again brought the fight into possible stoppage territory, but Aleem’s heart and will somehow kept him on his feet.

The ringside physician took a look at Aleem before the start of round 11.

After rounds and rounds of taking a beating, Aleem finally went down in round 11 from a poleax right hand. This time Pacheco didn’t let him escape, as he poured it on until Corona waved it off at 2:32, just as Aleem appeared to be sinking to the canvas for a second time.

“Shout out to Aleem, man. He’s a tough fighter and has a lot of heart, a great fighter, but this is my home court, and I have to give a great show for my fans,” said Pacheco. “I feel like I’m a much better fighter than Aleem and Lester (Martinez), put together. And you know, I just came out and showed that.

“I controlled with my jab, put my punches together, listened to my corner, and we got the job done. Having a coach with that much experience, he told me some great things in the corner, and I listened to him, I trusted him, and we got the job done. I was just doing what Aleem gave me, you know, I was reading him. I was studying him every round, and as the fight went on, I saw different openings, and I just took advantage of them.”

Pacheco made a special point to call out WBA champion Jaime Munguia, inviting him to a fight that would surely be a barnburner if it happens.