Pacheco vs Sadjo Predictions: Bombs away as super middle mega-punchers meet

Los Angeles puncher Diego Pacheco returns to the ring this Saturday, December 13 as he takes on Kevin Lele Sadjo. The unbeaten punchers clash over the WBC silver and WBO international super middleweight titles. The Stockton Arena in Stockton, California will host the 12-rounder with DAZN broadcasting live.

Here are my Pacheco vs Sadjo predictions.

Pacheco vs Sadjo Odds

Pacheco is used to it by now, he is once again the favourite at 2/9. Sadjo is priced at 18/5 while you can back the draw at 16/1.

Pacheco vs Sadjo Fight Preview

This fight is 4/7 to finish inside the distance and you can see why. Pacheco has 18 knockouts on his 24-0 record. Sadjo is 26-0 with 23 finishes inside the distance. This is a pivotal meeting of two big power-punchers.

Sadjo will be well-known to British fight fans for folding Jack Cullen in a European title fight back in 2021. It took Sadjo six rounds to stop his man, with the popular Bolton boy bleeding and broken by the fight’s conclusion. Cullen has never quite been the same fighter since.

Sadjo has been exactly the same fighter since. Highly-active, he has fought nine times in the last three years. Tough Argentine Durval Elias Palacio is the only fighter to take Sadjo the distance in that period. The Frenchman has fought his way into the WBC and WBO top-10s, as well as an 11th-placed position with the IBF.

Elite amateur Pacheco turned over while still in his teens. That has never looked like a bad move, with Matchroom expertly guiding the young puncher. Still only 24, there are notable names on Diego’s swelling resume. As well as his own stoppage of common foe Cullen, this time in four rounds, he has also beaten world title challengers Marcelo Coceres and Maciej Sulecki, as well as fringe contenders like Steven Nelson and Trevor McCumby.

The latter pair each took Pacheco the 12-round distance. The Nelson fight was a good scrap where Pacheco boxed thoughtfully and effectively against an aggressive foe. But the McCumby fight was a dull affair. The underdog was reluctant to engage, even more so when he picked up a cut. Pacheco looked ill-at-ease, struggling to close the distance on a foe who was only looking for single shots on the counter.

The keyboards were sharpened in the aftermath and a shoddy 12 rounds has led many to write off a fighter who has impressed in the vast majority of his outings. Can Pacheco punch his way out of the echo chamber on Saturday night?

This fight comes at a crucial time for the 168-pound division. Terence Crawford vacated his WBC belt just this week after refusing to pay the body’s sanctioning fees. With no clear word on his next move, the victor here could find themselves near the front of the queue if ‘Bud’ drops more belts. 

This fight is for WBC and WBO ranking belts. Britain’s Hamza Sheeraz will fight Christian Mbilli next year for the WBC world title. The latter actually defeated Sadjo in a final qualifier for the Olympics, meaning if they both win there is a possible title fight rich in narrative.

The WBO have installed Saul Canelo Alvarez as their mandatory, the man who Crawford beat to rule the super middleweight division. The Mexican is reportedly keen on a rematch with Crawford. But if ‘Bud’ declines, with middleweight also said to interest him, then Pacheco or Sadjo could find themselves face-to-face with the face of boxing.

To the victor goes the spoils and what spoils they are. Two big punchers with everything to gain? The ingredients are there for one hell of a showdown.

Pacheco vs Sadjo Full Card

Diego Pacheco vs Kevin Lele Sadjo

Gabriel Flores Jr vs Joe Cordina

Skye Nicolson vs Yuliahn Luna Avila

Ernesto Mercado vs Antonio Moran

Arturo Popoca vs Cesar Vaca Espinoza

Cheavon Clarke vs Anthony Hollaway

Sachery Sam vs Brandon Medina Guerrero

Cesar Olvera vs Victor Saravia

Pacheco vs Sadjo Prediction

Sadjo is a true throwback. He’s basically Clubber Lang. A muscled adonis who throws punches like he wants to turn bones to dust. There is more artistry in a half-eaten box of crayons. But Sadjo has enough power to light Times Square for a month.

Pacheco is considered. Studious. He hits hard, but he hits to win. Sadjo boxes like his opponent stole his TV and insulted his Mother on the way out of the door. 

The kicker here is the fact Pacheco does not struggle with aggression. His style often relies on an opponent who wants to lay it on thick. Look at the Coceres win. He avoided the veteran’s shots with supreme head movement before lowering the boom with an uppercut.

I reckon this one goes the same way. Sadjo will relentlessly pursue his man, but Pacheco’s tidy brand of counter-punching will eventually win the day. I’m taking Pacheco by knockout at 20/21.

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