If you’re wondering whether Richmond Virginia’s Immanuwel Aleem is coming to win or just survive against Renton, Washington’s undefeated Diego Pacheco, you needed to look no further than his outfit at today’s final press conference for their upcoming 12-round fight for the WBC Silver and WBO International super middleweight titles. 

Typical to his professional career, Aleem, 22-4-3 (14 KOs), will once again be going into the ring as the underdog when he faces top-ranked Pacheco, 25-0 (18 KOs), this Saturday, July 18, on a Matchroom Boxing card from Dignity Health Sports Park Carson, California, and live on DAZN (8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT).

However, far from feeling over-matched, 32-year-old “The Chosen One” Aleem showed up for today’s final press event wearing the typical outfit of a forensic specialist at a murder scene.

“I’m just prepared for the occasion,” Aleem explained of his outfit. “You know, there’s a body on Saturday. I gotta go get it, so, I’m just prepared.”

5’ 9” Aleem says he’s ready for war Saturday night and fully expects to pull off the upset against the bigger and younger, 6’ 4”, 25-year-old Pacheco.

“Of course (I think I’m going to win). I’m a real boxer. I’ve been in this sport since I was 12 years old… I know what’s at stake… it’s hands versus hands, and I know what these hands can do… We’re going to get it on. And like I said, I’m dressed for the occasion.

“I fight everybody who’s been tall. Look at my record. You see the guys. I’m normally the shorter fighter nine times out of ten. It’s another day in the boxing ring for me.”

WBC No. 13-ranked Aleem also made note of some controversy surrounding Pacheco, especially in his last fight, a December 2025 unanimous 12-round decision over Kevin Lele Sadjo where Pacheco had to get up off the canvas in round eight and then spent long stretches tying Sadjo up.

“I know he holds repeatedly, probably like three to four times a round. Referees need to really identify that, and hopefully he doesn’t make this a hugging match, and we can really throw hands,” said Aleem.

Aleem says facing the hot, young prospect on the cusp of a world title try is nothing new to him, in fact he’s flourished previously in that situation. 

I went through this several years ago with Khytrov,” said Aleem, referring to his January 2017 TKO 6 over then 14-0 Ievgen Khytrov for the vacant WBC silver middleweight title in which Khytrov was down twice. 

“He was undefeated and ready to fight Triple G. It’s the same situation. They throw these fighters (at me) … now it’s (the same situation), again, with Pacheco.

“It’s my time for myself… I climbed myself back up from two years ago… I wasn’t ranked. I marched right back to a (world-ranked) position, so it might be right where I want to be.”