Immanuwel Aleem is putting Diego Pacheco’s clinching tactics under scrutiny ahead of their super middleweight bout on July 18. Aleem has warned the referee to prevent excessive holding, predicting Pacheco will resort to the controversial strategy once the fight becomes difficult.
The veteran challenger made his concerns public during the final press conference, directly referencing Pacheco’s frequent use of the clinch in past fights. Aleem believes it is a predictable pattern. “I know he holds rapidly probably like three to four times a round,” Aleem stated. He immediately followed up with a direct appeal to the official for Saturday’s contest. “Referees need to really identify that, and hopefully he doesn’t make this a hugging match, and we can really throw hands.”
These comments stem from criticism of Pacheco’s last victory over Kevin Lele Sadjo in December. In that bout, Pacheco was knocked down and subsequently used the clinch repeatedly to manage the distance and recover. While the tactic secured him a unanimous decision, it frustrated viewers who wanted to see more action. Aleem, who is the shorter fighter, is confident he can negate Pacheco’s physical advantages if the fight is allowed to flow. “I fight everybody who’s been tall. Look at my record. I’m normally the shorter fighter nine times out of ten. It’s another day in the boxing ring for me,” he said.
Aleem insists he plans to force engagements and test Pacheco’s composure from the opening bell.
He promised an aggressive approach, framing the fight as a test of will. “It’s the animal mentality. It’s animal mode, and you’ll get to see that July 18th. It will be unleashed.” For the undefeated Pacheco (25-0), the stakes extend beyond maintaining his perfect record. Another performance dominated by holding would amplify questions about his ability to handle pressure on the inside, potentially affecting his standing as he pursues major title fights.
