Pacheco and Cruz keep ESPN rankings after Carson stoppages
Diego Pacheco and Andy Cruz stayed put in ESPN’s divisional boxing rankings after scoring stoppage wins at Dignity Health Sports Park.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
2 min read
Diego Pacheco and Andy Cruz did what ranked fighters are supposed to do in Carson, California: win, finish, and keep their places in the pecking order.
ESPN’s Andreas Hale reported that both boxers held their spots in the outlet’s latest divisional rankings after stoppage victories over the weekend at Dignity Health Sports Park. Pacheco remains ESPN’s No. 6 super middleweight, while Cruz stays at No. 3 at lightweight.
Cruz made quick work of Abraham Montoya, ending their fight in the third round. According to ESPN, the performance marked a return to form for Cruz after his controversial decision loss earlier this year to IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla.
Hale reported that Cruz looked sharp and showed a stronger commitment to throwing with authority. Late in the second round, Cruz landed a right hand during an exchange that dropped Montoya.
Montoya got up and made it to the bell, but ESPN reported that he was hurt badly enough that the end was close. Cruz pressed in the third and finished the bout with a flurry.
Pacheco had to work longer, but he also got the ending he wanted. ESPN reported that he stopped Immanuwel Aleem in the 11th round of their super middleweight fight, snapping a run of three straight decision wins.
According to Hale, Pacheco built the result behind his jab, body attack and repeated uppercuts. ESPN reported that Aleem was in danger in the seventh and 10th rounds, but referee Ray Corona let the fight continue while Aleem was unsteady.
The stoppage came in Round 11, when Pacheco forced the referee to step in to protect Aleem from more punishment, ESPN reported. It was Pacheco’s first knockout win since August 2024.
After the victory, ESPN reported that Pacheco is looking for either a title opportunity or a higher-level opponent in his next bout.
The latest update keeps both fighters in place rather than rewarding them with a move up. ESPN’s divisional rankings are designed to track the top fighters by weight class, with changes made based on recent results and performances.
ESPN says fighters who announce a move to a new weight class are considered there only after competing in that division, if their performance warrants inclusion. Fighters who hold titles in two divisions can appear in both sets of rankings.
The outlet also says boxers who have not fought in the past 12 months and do not have a fight scheduled are removed until they return. Fighters who test positive for a performance-enhancing substance are also taken out of the rankings and become eligible again after their next bout.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.