Pacheco (25-0, 18 KOs) will return July 18 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, against Immanuwel Aleem (22-4-3, 14 KOs) to headline a Matchroom Boxing card on DAZN, it was announced on Saturday.

The long-planned IBF lightweight title eliminator bout between Andy Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs) and Albert Bell (28-0, 9 KOs) will be slotted in the co-main event spot.

Pacheco, The Ring’s No. 6-rated fighter at 168 pounds, left plenty to be desired from his 2025 campaign, which featured workmanlike, 12-round unanimous decision wins against Steven Nelson, Trevor McCumby and Kevin Lele Sadjo.

Pacheco was even dropped in his last contest against Sadjo in December, which marked his first fight away from longtime coach Jose Benavidez Sr., the father and trainer of David Benavidez.

Amid lukewarm performances and changes in management and coaching, Pacheco also passed on ordered fights against the likes of Christian Mbilli and Hamzah Sheeraz. Mbilli (WBC) and Sheeraz (WBO) have since both gone on to claim shares of titles in the division in recent months.

Pacheco, a 25-year-old from Los Angeles, will now return home to headline a show in Southern California for a third time, all while seeking to propel his career toward a title path.

Hall of Fame fighter and world-class coach Buddy McGirt will be tasked with getting Pacheco to the promised land.

Aleem, meanwhile, last fought in March and pushed Lester Martinez, The Ring’s No. 4-ranked super middleweight, to the distance during a lopsided, 12-round unanimous decision defeat.

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.