You wouldn’t have known it by the way Darius Fulghum fought. The confident, improved underdog upset Pacheco by unanimous decision and resuscitated his career in a 12-round main event DAZN streamed and TNT and truTV televised from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Judges Jack Reiss and Fernando Villarreal scored their fight 115-112 for Fulghum. Pam Hayashida had it slightly closer, 114-113 for Fulghum.

Fulghum (16-1-1, 13 KOs) made Pacheco uncomfortable for much of their fight, opened multiple cuts on the heavily favored fighter’s face and rarely took a backward step. He walked down a taller, powerful puncher who understandably mentioned some of the division’s most formidable fighters as potential opponents in 2027.

Houston’s Fulghum has a nursing degree, but he operated like a surgeon at times while dissecting Pacheco (26-1, 19 KOs). He even out-jabbed an opponent known for his jab.

“I always wanna demonstrate I got the most heart in boxing,” Fulghum told DAZN’s Chris Mannix. “I wanna win so bad, it’s crazy. And I’m just thankful Diego gave me an opportunity, and I came in and did my thing.”

The 30-year-old Fulghum redeemed himself after a difficult 2025 during which he lost a unanimous decision to top contender Bektemir Melikuziev (17-1, 11 KOs) and settled for a 10-round majority draw with David Stevens (15-2-1, 10 KOs) in back-to-back bouts.

“Man, I really had to dig deep,” Fulghum said. “The adversity of the crowd – it’s a great crowd, man. Y’all really showed out for Diego. I felt all the animosity, right from the ring walk. People were like, ‘Oh, man, you suck! You’re gonna get knocked out!’ And I remember thinking, I was like, ‘Imma do my thing tonight. They don’t know what they seeing.’ ”

Fulghum’s life-altering win came in a WBA elimination match. The Panama City-based sanctioning organization announced before Pacheco, ranked No. 5, fought Fulghum, rated No. 4, that the winner would become its mandatory challenger for the winner of an upcoming bout between WBA titleholder Jaime Munguia (47-2, 35 KOs) and Melikuziev, who Munguia must fight next.

Pacheco, 25, entered their fight as a 12-1 favorite, according to DraftKings. He looked lethargic at times, though, and displayed bad body language during much of their fight.

The Los Angeles native’s setback will cost him the No. 6 ranking among The Ring’s contenders for an unclaimed super middleweight title. He is also rated No. 1 by the WBC and No. 2 by the WBO, which will help Fulghum climb those rankings.

Eddie Hearn, Pacheco’s promoter, stated, though, that Pacheco has a rematch clause in his contract that he’ll urge his fighter to exercise.

Clearly in need of a knockout to win, Pacheco clipped Fulghum with multiple rights in the opening minute of the 12th round. Fulghum took his best punches without incident, however, just as he had done during the first 11 rounds.

Pacheco and Fulghum exchanged stinging right hands in the middle minute of the 10th round

Referee Ray Corona deducted a point from Fulghum for hitting Pacheco on the back of his head with 1:33 to go in the ninth round.

Pacheco caught Fulghum with a combination that backed him into the ropes and caused him to hold with about 30 seconds on the clock in the eighth round. Corona warned Fulghum for pushing Pacheco to the canvas.

Fulghum and Pacheco traded hard rights in the center of the ring just after the halfway point of the seventh round. Neither boxer budged, which probably affected Pacheco’s psyche more because it became clearer with each passing round he was going to need a knockout to win.

Pacheco caught Fulghum with a right less than a minute into the sixth round, but Fulghum took it well and kept moving forward.

A right by Fulghum backed Pacheco into the ropes with just over 40 seconds on the clock in the fifth round. By then, Fulghum was in complete command.

Fulghum’s jab remained a reliable weapon in the fourth round, when he kept pressing the action, got inside on his taller, longer opponent and made Pacheco reluctant to exchange with him.

Fulghum’s stiff jab opened a cut beneath Pacheco’s right eye in the third round.

Pacheco continually ducked down during the first two rounds, which led to awkward clinches. The heavily favored fighter tried to pump his jab and occasionally landed right hands, but Fulghum was the aggressor and more effective fighter in the first six minutes of action.

Ten rounds later, Pacheco was left to explain his first professional loss.

“Man, it just wasn’t my night tonight,” Pacheco said. “You know, didn’t feel like myself in the beginning. But I guess you get nights like that in boxing. Congratulations to Darius. He did what he had to do, but you know, I definitely would love to run it back.”