Diego Pacheco has been active in 2025.

His fight with Cameroonian knockout artist Kevin Lele Sadjo on Saturday night will mark his third 12-round bout of this calendar year. The Los Angeles native is also ranked fifth among The Ring’s super middleweight contenders, third by the WBO, sixth by the WBC and ninth by the WBA.

At 24, Pacheco is at least in position to fight for a 168-pound crown at some point in his mid-20s.

The ambitious Mexican-American wishes, however, that he would’ve had more meaningful fights by now. Pacheco (24-0, 18 KOs), a 5-1 favorite to defeat Sadjo (26-0, 23 KOs) in a main event DAZN will stream globally, hopes that 2026 is the year his promoter, Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn, helps him secure the career-changing opportunities Pacheco craves.

“After I get this win, I can’t be denied anymore,” Pacheco told The Ring. “I’m here. And I think Eddie Hearn and my promotional team, I think they could do a little better job at promoting me and getting these big fights for me. So, you know, hopefully next year that happens.”

Hearn has explained to Pacheco why some of the fights he wants haven’t happened. Pacheco understands the realities of the boxing business, yet he wants to test himself against comparable contenders in his division.

“I said that to him I think like two years ago,” Pacheco said. “And pretty much they told me they were gonna do everything in their power to get me those fights. But we can’t force these guys to fight you. And I was kinda like, ‘OK, I get that. But I’m ready and I’m a hundred percent willing to fight any of these guys in the division.’

“It’s a matter of a lotta these guys would see me as a high-risk, low-reward fight. And I get that. But like I said, now it’s getting to the point now where I can’t be denied. And a spectacular win December 13th will line me up for those big fights for sure.”

As anxious as Pacheco is for sterner tests against formidable fighters like Lester Martinez, Christian Mbilli, Jaime Munguia or Hamzah Sheeraz, he is thankful for remaining active and gaining experience in 2025. He defeated Steven Nelson (20-2, 16 KOs) and Trevor McCumby (28-2, 21 KOs) by unanimous decision in 12-round fights that took place on January 25 and July 19, respectively.

“After this fight with Kevin Lele Sadjo, everything goes well, I’d say it was a decent year,” Pacheco said. “Given the fact that I went the distance in my first two fights this year, I feel that gave me a lot of experience and really taught me a lot about myself. A great performance on December 13th would really be the exclamation point and really end the year great, to hopefully an even bigger 2026, where we have bigger fights and world title fights hopefully.”

Pacheco and Sadjo, who resides and trains in France, will headline a Matchroom card at Adventist Health Arena in Stockton, California. DAZN’s coverage of the main portion of the Pacheco-Sadjo undercard is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT).

Gabriel Flores Jr. (27-2, 8 KOs), a lightweight contender from Stockton, is set to face Joe Cordina (18-1, 9 KOs), a former IBF junior lightweight champ from Cardiff, Wales, in the 12-round co-feature.