Pacheco, 25-0 (18 KOs), will defend the WBC Silver and WBO International super middleweight titles against Aleem, 22-4-3 (14 KOs). The 25-year-old Los Angeles native is coming off a unanimous decision win over Kevin Lele Sadjo last December.
Pacheco was knocked down in the eighth round of his unanimous decision victory over Kevin Lele Sadjo last December.
Since then, Pacheco has made notable changes outside the ring, joining Sheer Sports and bringing Hall of Fame trainer Buddy McGirt into his corner. Matchroom has also renewed its promotional deal with the highly regarded super middleweight contender.
“I’m looking forward to taking him to the world title,” Robert Diaz of Sheer Sports said of Pacheco.
The co-function can have big implications in lightweighting. Cruz, 6-1 (3 KOs), will look to bounce back from the first loss of his professional career when he faces Bell, 28-1 (9 KOs), in an IBF final eliminator.
The 2020 Olympic gold medalist dropped a 12-round majority decision to Muratalla on January 24, falling short in his bid to capture the IBF lightweight title. Despite the setback, Cruz was given an immediate opportunity to work his way back into title contention.
Bell enters the fight with a long winning streak and has spent years climbing the rankings in search of a breakthrough opportunity. The winner will strengthen his position for a future meeting with Muratalla, who will defend his title against Robson Conceicao on August 1st.
With a world title eliminator at lightweight and one of boxing’s top-rated super middleweights returning to action, the July 18 card offers significant stakes across two divisions as Matchroom continues to shape the title picture heading into the second half of 2026.
