Pacheco vs Sulecki Predictions: Canelo’s next challenger? Pacheco must win

Undefeated super middleweight prospect Diego Pacheco faces Maciej Sulecki this Saturday, August 31 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Matchroom Boxing will stage the card, with DAZN televising the event. 

Here are my Pacheco vs Sulecki predictions ahead of this 168lb main event.

They are very excited about Pacheco over at Matchroom HQ. You can see why. The LA native is 21-0 with 17 knockouts and currently resides in the top-four of three of the major ranking bodies. While the WBA has broken ranks, placing him 13th, Pacheco is currently the WBO number-one contender.

Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn is excited by his man’s chances, too. The British promoter has steered Pacheco’s career since he was 17 and is reportedly keen on a clash with WBO, WBA and WBC champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. That sort of challenge could prove dangerous given the chasm of experience between the pair. Pacheco certainly needs more fights like this one before he can consider fighting the Mexican legend.

Sulecki is a seasoned world-level competitor, having boxed some big names over the course of his 34-fight career. ‘Striczu’ holds wins over former world champion Jack Culcay, ex-challenger Grzegorz Proksa and the double-tough Gabriel Rosado. Sulecki’s two defeats came in elite company, having taken Danny Jacobs and then-WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade the distance.

Sulecki has won four straight since the Andrade loss, albeit at a lower level. He remains ambitious at 35 but there is a sense his best days are behind him. He feels like the perfect opponent for a prospect like Pacheco. Battle-tested at world level but perhaps faded just enough to provide a surmountable challenge. 

Pacheco has steadily climbed the ladder, fighting decent opposition. His world ranking feels lofty considering his level of competition, but victories over Jack Cullen, Marcelo Coceres and Shawn McCalman are solid. The super middleweight star needs this Sulecki fight now. A step-up in class against someone who has been in with the best.

The 23-year-old is stands 6’4 and is blessed with height and reach advantages over most fighters he encounters at the weight. By way of a comparison, ‘Canelo’ is just shy of 5’8. But Pacheco tends to do the majority of his fighting on the inside. You can get away with that as your coming up, but Pacheco might want to start using his physical gifts better as he faces better opposition.

Sulecki will come to box. The Pole has just 12 knockouts in his 32 wins. The veteran’s strategy will likely start with survival and then morph as the fight goes on. Look for Sulecki to try and grind down Pacheco down the stretch, dragging him into deeper waters and trying to nick a win on the cards.

This is a well-matched fight on a lowkey weekend for boxing. With no A-listers on the docket this Saturday, more eyeballs will be on this fine prospect-meets-veteran affair. A battle of youth and experience, I feel like the styles could blend well. Tune in to see a future star taste his first true test.

Pacheco vs Sulecki Fight Odds

Pacheco is way off in the distance at 1/33 while Sulecki strains to keep up at 10/1. A draw is 20/1.

Pacheco vs Sulecki Full Card

Diego Pacheco vs. Maciej Sulecki; For the WBC USA and WBO International super middleweight belts 

Artutro Popoca vs. Jesus Arechiga Valdez; WBC Continental Americas super bantamweight championship 

Cheavon Clarke vs. Efetobor Apochi; Cruiserweight 

Adelaida Ruiz vs. Ginny Fuchs; WBC interim super flyweight championship 

Eduardo Nunez vs. Miguel Marriaga; Super featherweight 

Criztec Bazaldua vs. Kyle Erwin; Super lightweight

Fabian Rojo vs. Alejandro Frias Rodriguez; Welterweight 

Alexander Gueche vs. David Vargas Zamora; Super flyweight

Pacheco vs Sukecki Prediction

I have got to go with the young gun here. It feels like Pacheco’s fight to win. I do think Sulecki has enough left to make a fight of it. I don’t think the Pole will take many rounds, if any, but he’ll make each session competitive enough.

My pick is a 4/1 shot, which is Pacheco to get the job done on points. Not enough to argue for a ‘Canelo’ match-up just yet, but it’ll move the Californian along nicely.