Diego Pacheco Stops Rugged Aleem In 11 - Pound4Pound.com

Diego Pacheco Stops Rugged Aleem In 11

By Albert Castillo
Photos: William Trillo

From Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, Matchroom Boxing put together an excellent card of eight exciting fights.

In the main event of the evening for the WBC Silver Middle and the WBO International Super Middle Championship, top world contender Diego Pacheco (26-0, 19 KO's) gave Immanuwel Aleem (22-5-3, 14 KO's) a boxing lesson.

Pacheco used double and triple jabs to hide a crisp right hand that connected over and over again. Aleem failed to get his head off the line.

In the fifth round, Pacheco introduced an uppercut that snapped back the head of Aleem. The jab continued to be a fierce weapon that Aleem could not defend.

In the sixth, Pacheco landed some heavy body shots that caused Aleem to take deep breaths. Throughout the next several rounds, Aleem endured excruciating punishment at the hands of Pacheco's body shots and uppercuts.

In the 11th round, referee Ray Corona asked the doctor to look at Aleem. The fight continued, and Pacheco connected with a vicious right hand that put Aleem down.

With 40 seconds to go, Aleem couldn't keep his hands up, and Pacheco connected with two more right hands. As he was going down, referee Ray Corona called off the fight at 2:32 of the 11th round.

Pacheco maintains his titles and earns his 19th knockout. The next opponent mentioned for Pacheco is Jaime Munguia. We shall see if the promoters can put this one together.

In this battle for the vacant NABF championship, Albert "Chop Chop" Gonzalez (18-0, 11 KO's) hammered Aaron Lopez Alameda (31-4, 18 KO's) with three solid head shots and followed it up with two right hands to the body that put Lopez Alameda down.

Lopez could not beat the count, and Chop Chop becomes the new NABF Champion. The knockout occurred at 1:52 of the second round, and it is the first time that Lopez has been knocked out in 35 fights.

In the post-fight interview, Chop Chop stated the NABF championship is not a world title and his goal is to become a world champion. He called out Bruce Carrington and Brandon Figueroa, amongst others.

In the semi-main event, talented Andy Cruz (7-1, 4 KO's) nailed Abraham Montoya (21-8-1, 14 KO's) in the second round with a tremendous right-hand counter that dropped Montoya.

Montoya made the count, but the bell saved him from further damage.

At the beginning of the third round, referee Thomas Taylor had the doctor check Montoya for a broken jaw. The fight continued, and Cruz, sensing the end was near, tuned up Montoya with a flurry of punches, knowing the referee would step in.

Taylor did step in and called the fight at .54 seconds of the third round.

Cruz gets back on the winning track after his sole loss to Raymond Muratalla. Cruz looked strong and walks away with the WBC USA Silver Lightweight Championship.

In the TV opener, a tremendous battle ensued between former world title contender Saul Sanchez (21-5-1, 14 KO's) and up-and-comer Bruno Rios (9-0, 7 KO's).

In the corner, Rios was advised to dip under the left hook, which Sanchez is known for. However, in the second round, Sanchez went around the guard and caught Rios with the left hook and dropped him into the ropes. A knockdown was scored for Sanchez.

In the middle rounds, Rios scored quickly and often, fending off blows from Sanchez. Rios hurt Sanchez with a shot to the midsection. Sanchez rallied late in the fight but could not overcome the youth and skill of Rios.

Judges saw the fight as close, as reflected in the scoring of 96-93, 96-93, and 95-94 for Bruno Rios.

Rios leaves the ring still undefeated and ready to take on his next challenge.

Hot prospect Leo Atang (8-0, 7 KO's) overwhelmed Glen "Gorilla" Williams (2-2, 1 KO). From the opening bell, it was apparent that Atang was on another level as he connected with a crisp right hand that stunned the Gorilla.

From thereon, Atang drilled him with lefts and rights until the fourth round, when he cornered the Gorilla and landed a barrage of punches.

The referee stopped the fight at 2:54 of the fourth round.

The 19-year-old Atang keeps his unbeaten streak alive. All of his wins have come within this year, and he is on his way to being a top contender.

In an entertaining back-and-forth slugfest, up-and-coming Samuel Contreras (8-0, 3 KO's) outlasted Jorge Ayala (2-3) to maintain his unbeaten record.

Judges scored 60-54, 59-55, and 59-55, giving Contreras a solid unanimous win.

Hard-hitting prospect Frank "Knuckles" Espinoza (5-0, 5 KO's) gave a brutal beating to Luis Carabello Ramos (8-9-1, 8 KO's).

By the end of the third round, Carabello Ramos was done and, on the advice of the ringside doctor, did not come out for the fourth round.

Espinoza earns his fifth knockout in as many fights.

Diego Pacheco's younger brother, Fernando (11-0, 8 KO's), registered a TKO when an arm punch to Nick Jones (9-6, 6 KO's) caused Jones to suffer a torn bicep.

Referee Thomas Taylor called an end to the bout at 1:31 of the second round.

Fernando earns his eighth knockout and remains unbeaten.