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Pacheco: "People Will Start Recognizing
Me As A Contender After This Win"
Dieogo Pacheco wants to be recognized as a contender rather
than a prospect once he knocks out Jack Cullen in their WBO
International Super-Middleweight Title showdown at the M&S
Bank Arena Liverpool this Saturday March 11, live on DAZN
(excluding Australia and New Zealand).
The undefeated 22-year-old sensation, who fights in the UK
for the first time in his career this weekend, is eager to
make a big impression in front of Liverpool fight fans by
stopping ‘Little Lever’s Meat Cleaver’ in what will now be
the co-headline bout following Callum Smith’s injury.
“Jack Cullen I feel is a good opponent, finally someone that
the fans know I guess,” said Pacheco. “If I beat him then
it’s going to be like, ‘he beat this guy’, and I hope people
are going to start believing in me a little bit more.
“After I get this win, I do feel that people will start
recognizing me more as a contender than a prospect. He’s
tall and he has a lot of heart, but I’m a way better fighter
than him. I see myself stopping him. He won’t be able to
take my power. Once I see the opening, I’ll take it.
“I think this fight is really important for my career. It’s
really important that I put on a good performance. I wanna
knock him out, I wanna stop him. In whatever round it comes
in, whether it’s a body shot or a head shot, I just wanna to
stop him.”
Pacheco trains in Seattle, USA under the guidance of Jose
Benavidez Sr alongside the likes of two-time World Champion
David Benavidez, who is preparing for a March 25 WBC Interim
World Title fight with Caleb Plant, and the Los Angeles
youngster says he is feeling the benefits from countless
rounds of world class sparring.
“I’ve been part of David Benavidez’ last five fights. Every
camp here is really tough. It’s good work, it doesn’t get
better than this. The first time I ever came down here,
David reached out to me on the DMs. It was after my Saudi
Arabia fight. He was like, ‘oh I was watching that, you’re
really good, do you wanna come down and work with me?’. I
was like ‘hell yeah’.
“That’s what has gotten me the great wins, the great
knockouts – the preparation I’ve been doing. That’s the
reason I’m here working with them. There are other great
sparring partners in here as well and I’m preparing better
than ever for this fight. The sparring doesn’t get better
than this so I’m really thankful for that.
“Obviously it is really tough, David Benavidez is a really
good fighter. Every time I’m in there with him I learn
something new. He pushes me more than anyone else. That’s
exactly what I need.”
Pacheco vs. Cullen is part of a big night of action in
Liverpool, local Super-Lightweight Robbie Davies Jr (23-3,
15 KOs) takes on Darragh Foley (21-4-1, 9 KOs) over ten
rounds, Romford Heavyweight sensation Johnny Fisher (7-0, 6
KOs) takes ‘The Romford Bull’ Army to Liverpool for the
first time as he faces Italy’s Alfonso Damiani (6-2, 2 KOs)
over eight rounds and decorated amateur star turned
Super-Bantamweight prospect Peter McGrail (6-0, 5 KOs) makes
his highly anticipated Matchroom debut against Argentina's
Nicolas Nahuel Botelli (14-7, 8 KOs).
Warrington Lightweight talent Rhiannon Dixon (7-0) squares
off with Wombourne’s Vicky Wilkinson (5-0-1) for the
Commonwealth Title, Oldham’s Aqib Fiaz (10-0) takes on
Yeovil’s Dean Dodge (9-2-1, 3 KOs) over eight rounds at
Super-Featherweight, plus there’s for Hyde’s Campbell Hatton
(9-0, 3 KOs), Chester Middleweight Paddy Lacey (7-0, 1 KO)
and Billericay Middleweight George Liddard (1-0, 1 KO).
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