Diego Pacheco will defend his WBC Silver and WBO International Super-Middleweight titles against Immanuwel Aleem on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The 25-year-old Los Angeles native, who boasts a perfect 25-0 (18 KOs) record, recently signed a new long-term promotional agreement with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing.
The main event was officially announced on June 14 during a press event in Glendale, Arizona, and will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN.
Pacheco enters this bout ranked prominently across all major sanctioning bodies, occupying the #3 spot with the WBO, #4 with the WBC and IBF, #7 with the WBA, and #6 in The Ring magazine rankings.
This fight represents a “new chapter” for the rising star, as it marks his first appearance under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Buddy McGirt. Pacheco previously found success at the Carson venue, which fans call the “War Grounds,” when he knocked out Maciej Sulecki there in 2024.
Immanuwel Aleem, 32, heads into the contest with a record of 22-4-3 (14 KOs) and a clear mission to derail Pacheco’s momentum. Known as “The Chosen One,” Aleem is looking to rebound from a distance loss against Lester Martinez in March for the interim WBC world title.
During their first face-off, Aleem told Pacheco he would be the first man to hand him a professional defeat. While many fans eagerly discuss a potential David Benavidez showdown with Canelo Alvarez, Pacheco remains focused on defending his regional straps to secure his own world title opportunity.
High stakes in the Cruz versus Bell lightweight eliminator
The co-main event features a critical clash in the 135-pound division as Andy Cruz faces Albert Bell in a final eliminator for the IBF World Lightweight title. Cruz, a Cuban Olympic hero with a 6-1 (3 KOs) professional record, is working to put himself back in position for a championship fight.
In January, Cruz was edged out in his first world title showdown by defending champion Raymond Muratalla in Las Vegas, a narrow setback he looks to rectify on July 18.
Albert Bell remains undefeated with a 28-0 (9 KOs) record and has frequently described himself as one of the most avoided names in the sport. The 33-year-old Ohioan views this DAZN-televised slot as his long-awaited opportunity to reach the pinnacle of the lightweight class. As com/shakur-stevenson-devin-haney-fight-update-welterweight-move/”>Shakur Stevenson dismisses immediate big-name bouts elsewhere in the division, the winner of Cruz-Bell will emerge as a mandatory challenger for the IBF belt.
Featherweight and heavyweight prospects on the Carson undercard
The undercard is bolstered by several highly-touted prospects, including Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez, who takes on Aaron Lopez Alameda over 10 rounds at featherweight. Gonzalez, 24, is currently 17-0 (10 KOs) and is searching for his fourth consecutive stoppage victory. His opponent, Alameda, brings significant experience to the ring as a former world title challenger with a record of 30-3 (17 KOs).
British heavyweight Leo Atang is set to make his American debut on the card. Atang, 7-0 (6 KOs), is known for his fast starts, with five of his seven victories coming in the first round. Most recently, he secured a knockout win over Fouad Shaili in June.
While his specific opponent has yet to be named, Atang will compete in a scheduled six-round bout at the Dignity Health Sports Park.
Event schedule and remaining lineup details
The event is scheduled to begin at 2:50 PM local time (PT) in Carson. Joining the televised card is unbeaten middleweight Frank Espinoza, who carries a perfect 4-0 (4 KOs) record into his fifth professional appearance. Espinoza is slated for a six-round bout against an opponent to be announced soon. Matchroom is expected to confirm additional undercard additions in the coming weeks.
The current lineup for the July 18 event includes:
- Diego Pacheco vs. Immanuwel Aleem (Super-Middleweight – WBC Silver/WBO International titles)
- Andy Cruz vs. Albert Bell (Lightweight – IBF World Title Final Eliminator)
- Albert Gonzalez vs. Aaron Alameda (Featherweight – 10 Rounds)
- Leo Atang vs. TBC (Heavyweight – 6 Rounds)
- Frank Espinoza vs. TBC (Middleweight – 6 Rounds)
Pacheco’s return to the “War Grounds” highlights a busy summer for DAZN as the platform continues to showcase world-ranked talent in Southern California. With championship implications in both the super-middleweight and lightweight divisions, the results of this card will likely dictate the landscape of several title pictures heading into the latter half of 2026.
