Diego Pacheco Avoids Janibek Alimkhanuly Title Route

Diego Pacheco is reportedly set to face Darius Fulghum on November 14 in Los Angeles, headlining "The Fight" series on TNT and DAZN. The matchup pairs the WBA's No. 5 and No. 6 ranked super middleweights, though promoters and broadcasters have not formally announced the event. This decision comes despite Pacheco being ranked No. 2 by the WBO, positioning him for a potential vacant WBO title fight against Janibek Alimkhanuly.

This move follows a pattern of Pacheco's team directing him away from high-risk title opportunities. Pacheco previously withdrew from an IBF eliminator against Christian Mbilli in late 2024, left negotiations for a WBC interim title fight with Mbilli in April 2025, and withdrew from a purse bid process for a vacant WBO title fight against Hamzah Sheeraz in January 2026.