Adding McGirt to his team has enhanced Pacheco’s IQ in the ring and increased his confidence for the types of fights he expects to take in 2027, bouts with champions or top contenders in the super middleweight division. The Los Angeles native has enjoyed learning from McGirt, a former junior welterweight and welterweight champion who expects Pacheco to become the best 168-pound fighter in boxing.

Darius Fulghum, meanwhile, realizes that his 12-round fight with Pacheco on Saturday night could represent his last chance to legitimize himself as a contender.

Houston’s Fulghum is 30, five years older than Pacheco (26-0, 19 KOs). He also lost the biggest fight of his career to Bektemir Melikuziev, who defeated Fulghum (15-1-1, 13 KOs) by unanimous decision in a competitive 12-rounder in May 2025.

Upsetting Pacheco would change Fulghum’s life, a possibility that isn’t at all lost on the heavily favored Pacheco, The Ring’s No. 6 contender for a vacant championship.

The picks are in from The Ring’s Mike Coppinger. Think you can beat him? Predict winners for prizes.

Pacheco: “I think Darius is a lot more technical [than Immanuwel Aleem]. I knew [Aleem] wasn’t gonna have the same speed as me, I knew he wasn’t gonna be able to match my power on the inside and things like that [in an 11th-round TKO win July 18]. I feel like Darius, he’s a bigger guy, he’s a little younger than Aleem was and I think he’s in his prime right now. So, it’s gonna be a great fight.”

Fulghum: “I came to this game late, I’m young in this and I still got so much room to grow. And nobody’s seen the best version of me yet. I’m ready to showcase that [Saturday night].”

Pacheco is a -1200 favorite to defeat Fulghum, who is a +650 underdog according to DraftKings. A win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification is set at -150 for Pacheco and +1400 for Fulghum. The odds on a draw are +2200 and the over (-230)/under (+165) is 10½ rounds.

Los Angeles native Anthony Olascuaga (12-1, 9 KOs) will defend his WBO flyweight title against Colombia’s Yuberjen Martinez (7-0, 7 KOs) in the 12-round co-feature that will immediately precede Pacheco versus Fulghum. The 27-year-old Olascuaga, The Ring’s No. 2 contender for a vacant 112-pound championship, is listed by DraftKings as a 7-1 favorite. Martinez, 35, is not ranked in The Ring’s top 10, but he is the WBO’s No. 2 contender for Olascuaga’s championship.

Dignity Health Sports Park; Carson, California

Global coverage is scheduled to begin on DAZN at 8 p.m. ET and 5 p.m. PT in the United States and 1 a.m. Sunday in the United Kingdom. The main portion of the card will also be broadcast on TNT and truTV in the United States (8 p.m. ET; 5 p.m. PT).